Billy Dye

Billy J Dye, 80, returned home to his Heavenly Father on November 18th, 2021. On a cold winter morning on February 16th, 1941 Bill made his first sounds as he was born in a small log cabin. His parents, William Freeman Dye and Laura Lavon Lawson were thrilled with the arrival of their son. He was the fourth of six children. His childhood was a very happy time. Bill grew up in the Uintah Basin in a small town called Neola on the family farm. This provided a lot of opportunities for work and fun with his brothers and sisters. Bill was a hard worker as the family raised a variety of farm animals and provided food and shelter for them. As with the rest of his siblings, he was taught the art of milking a few dairy cows by hand. This chore never seemed to end and had to be completed before the school bus arrived to take him to school. When Spring and Fall came there were hot days of hauling hay and chopping and storing corn. Bill loved riding horses. He and his brothers took a trip on horseback to the Ashley National Forest for a week of fishing in their favorite lakes and streams. During his school years, Bill was very active in sports and was on several of the sports teams in highschool. He enjoyed participating in football, baseball, wrestling, track, and basketball until his graduation from Union High School in 1959. After high school graduation, Bill decided he wanted to pursue a degree in Forestry and began his schooling at Weber State University in Ogden. While attending Weber State, he began his first job with the Forest Service working part time in the forest by Moran, Wyoming. Bill met LaRee Kunz at a church dance and his life was changed forever for the better. After dating for a couple of years, Bill and LaRee were married on November 10th, 1964. They made their first home in Farmington, New Mexico where Bill worked as a milkman. While living in New Mexico, they were blessed with the birth of their first child, a daughter, Lorie. In March of 1966, Bill moved his little family back to Moran, Wyoming and began attending college at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho. While Bill continued his work for the Forest Service and working on his education, his family continued to grow as well--Troy was born in 1967 followed by Trent in 1968. At this point, Bill and LaRee moved to Logan where Bill finished up his degree in Forestry at Utah State University in 1974. Right about the same time as graduation, another boy Travus, blessed their little family. At this point in time, Bill began what would be a lifelong career of working full-time for the USDA Forest Service, this took their family to McCall and New Meadows, Idaho but would eventually help them to find their home in CastleDale, Utah. After settling in CastleDale, twin girls Tia and Tammy were born. This made the Dye household very busy. Eighteen months later, a son, Tyson made the family complete. Having seven amazing children in the family made for some fun times. Together as a family they played innumerable ball games, had many fishing trips, walked many miles, and even built their new house together. Bill worked for 39 years for the Forest Service before retiring in 2001. During his career, he had the opportunity to fight forest fires. This is something he became very good at and was often requested to help with fires. He loved spending time in the mountains. He even had the honor to choose a Christmas tree that was displayed in Washington D.C. After retiring from the Forest Service, Bill worked for the Emery Water Conservancy District, Stewart's Grocery Store, and Braun Lapidary. Bill has been an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints his entire life. He loves being a member of the church and has served in numerous callings over the years. Bill served as the young men's president for more than 10 years. He served as Bishop of the CastleDale First Ward. Bill also loved serving in a Bishopric at the Emery County Correctional Facility. He loved to go and talk with the people there and help them to redirect their lives. He was very influential with many there. The Manti Temple was another place that Bill and LaRee loved to spend their time. They enjoyed spending their time doing the work for those that had passed on. A highlight of their church service came when Bill and LaRee had the opportunity to serve a full-time mission for the church in Nauvoo, Illinois. While there Bill served in several of the shops, drove the teams of oxen, and even used his acting skills in some of the plays that were performed there. He loved serving his mission with his beautiful wife and felt that this experience helped to strengthen his testimony even more. Bill has always felt that one of the most important things that you can do is live a Christlike life. Bill enjoyed fishing, 4-wheeling in the mountains or the desert, enjoying anything in the great outdoors, and spending time with his family. He loved people and had a way about him that made everyone feel comfortable and included. Bill always left people better than he found them. He loved to tease and joke and could often be found laughing or making others laugh. Bill lived his life with a smile and a laugh and a willingness to help anyone in need. He could often be found helping a neighbor, family member, or friend. He is a great example of Christlike service. He is survived by his loving wife LaRee and his seven children- Lorie (Keven) of Muscatine, Iowa; Troy (Jennifer) of Chubbuck, Idaho; Trent (Teresa) of Shelley, Idaho; Travus (Kathy) of Rexburg, Idaho; Tia of Logan, Utah; Tammy of Lehi, Utah; and Tyson (Mindy) of South Jordan, Utah. He has 33 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren which he loves immensely and is very proud of. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 29, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in the Castle Dale First Ward Building 35 East Main Street Castle Dale. A viewing will be held Monday, November 29, 2021 from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. at the Castle Dale First Ward Building. Live streaming of the services will be provided on the Fausett Mortuary Facebook page. Friends and family may sign the guest book and share memories of Bill at www.fausettmortuary.com.