Jaye B. Wrigley

BURLEY - Jaye B. Wrigley, 83, of Burley, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015, at his home.

Jaye was born at home in Burley, Idaho, on Jan. 19, 1932. He was the son of Wilford and Verla Banner Wrigley. He was the second of five children. He was raised in the View area and has lived there all of his life except for 18 months when he lived in Twin Falls.

Jay married Delsa Stoddard in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on Sept. 28, 1950. Just one year later, a lovely little daughter, Marsha LaVerle, was born. Jaye and Delsa were blessed by being able to adopt a son, Jaye Brian in 1958, and a daughter, Sonya in 1960. Their family grew again when they adopted Nolan, Curtis, and Nathan in 1992.

He married Linda Welch Gaines in the Logan Utah LDS Temple on July 7, 1994.

Farming and raising livestock were Jaye’s primary interests. He followed these pursuits with his brothers and a nephew in the Wrigley Ranches partnership until his death. He was engaged in the sheep business for a good part of his life. He also worked as an artificial insemination technician for Cache Valley Breeding Association, and owned a partnership in the Wagon Wheel Sporting Goods Store.

Jaye enjoyed many sports throughout the years and participated in baseball, basketball, skating, skiing, hunting, fishing, Saturday night dances - and the list goes on and on. He also started flying lessons when he was 18 and due to other commitments, he finished the lessons several years later. He loved to fly and was known for locating hundreds of stray animals on the desert and in the mountains. Flying was a rapid way to ride the range, check on the animals, and the hired help.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held numerous church positions during his lifetime. He served as ward financial clerk in Twin Falls. He served in View as second counselor to Bishop Harold Blauer, Sunday school superintendent, High Priest Group leader, counselor to three different presidents of the Elders Quorum for nine years, Venture leader in Scouting for seven years, nursery leader, home teacher, and committee chairman for the Varsity Scouts. For the seven years he served in Varsity Scouts, he conducted and participated in the famous View Ward horse trips, went down the white water twice, and floated the Snake River twice in canoes.

He served in civic positions on the advisory board for the BLM and as secretary for the Highway Unit Grazing Association. For many years he assisted with the 4-H livestock sales and judging at both the Cassia and Twin Falls County Fairs.

Jaye had a great love for the beauties of nature - mountains, trees, streams, plants, and animals. He had the ability of seeing beauty in a desert, whether it be Idaho sagebrush, barren Nevada hills, or the cactus in Arizona and California. He had a genuine love for and an interest in mankind. He was a kind, gentle man.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; and his children, Sonja (Craig) Black, Nolan Wrigley, Curtis Wrigley, and Nathan (Monica) Wrigley all of Burley; his brothers and sister, Don (Mavis) Wrigley of Burley, Rex (Shirlene) Wrigley of Delta Junction, Alaska, and Marva (Larry) Christensen, and Gale (Beth) Wrigley both of Burley; and grandchildren, Kelly Ward, Aaron Ward, and Weston Wrigley.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Delsa Stoddard Wrigley; a son, Jaye Brian Wrigley; a daughter, Marsha LaVerle Wrigley; and his parents, Wilford and Verla Wrigley.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the View LDS Church, 490 E. 550 S., of Burley, with Bishop Von Gibby officiating. Services will conclude with burial in the View Cemetery.

Friends and family may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at the church.