Boyd LaVell Eddins

Boyd LaVell Eddins, 92, passed away on December 26, 2025, in St. George, Utah. Boyd was born on August 4, 1933, in the log house on the Eddins' homestead ranch in the Narrows, Thayne, Wyoming.

He was the second son of LaVell Gilby Eddins and Kathryn McNeel Eddins. During his growing up years, Boyd worked on the ranch beside his father, caring for the animals, milking the cows, learning how to run a ranch, and becoming a skilled fisherman.

When he was 14 years old, his family sold the Eddins homestead in the Narrows and purchased the Sessions School Store and home across the street from Star Valley High School in Afton. Now a "city" dweller, Boyd held a handful of jobs including a fly-tying business, cleaning the post office, and being the best kid-sitter in town.

Boyd attended Star Valley High School where he played football and basketball and was a member of the yearbook staff. At sixteen, he became acquainted with Barlow Call who taught him to fly airplanes, a skill that would serve him well throughout his life.

Boyd attended Utah State University from 1951-1955 where he earned a degree in Aeronautics, an A & E Mechanics rating, and an officer's commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. While in school, he met and dated Jane Powell. They were married in the Logan LDS Temple on June 6, 1955, two days after their graduation from Utah State - a marriage that became a 59-year partnership between Boyd and Jane.

Boyd reported to the Air Force for active duty in January 1956, at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Navigators' training as a very skilled, effective navigator and was assigned to Strategic Air Command at Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas, navigating in a KC-97 refueling B47's. He was released from active duty as a Captain at the end of 1958 and returned to his beloved Star Valley.

Boyd and Jane added four children to their family, Mark, Becky, John, and Jim. Boyd worked hard to provide for his family. He was employed at CallAir, taught 5th grade, was a Book of Mormon teacher in the Afton Seminary, and a college instructor. On "the side" he was a typesetter for Star Valley Independent, owned and operated a gas station, and organized the Star Valley Airmotive business with Barlow Call. He flew his Interstate to look for stock, to track game for Fish and Game, to hunt coyotes, and for pure pleasure and adventure.

In 1959, Boyd joined the Air Force Reserve at Hill Air Force Base. He served as a navigator and navigator instructor on transport plans, C-124's and C-119's. He flew on world-wide missions, flying "around the world" touching every continent except Africa and South America.

He received steady promotions – Major, Lt. Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier General, and finally Major General. He served at Hill AFB, Ogden, Utah, and at Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. In July 1992, Boyd retired after thirty-seven years of Air Force duty. He received many outstanding honors and decorations through his service in the US Air Force Reserve.

In addition to his busy career with the Air Force Reserve, Boyd returned to college and earned another bachelor's degree in Western History and Literature from Weber State in 1963, a master's degree in History from Utah State in 1965, and completed the course work for a PhD from University of Wyoming in 1967, qualifying for National Defense Awards to fund his education. From 1967 to 1970, Boyd taught history at Weber State College.

In May 1967, Boyd and Jane bought land south of Smoot, Wyoming, land that became the "Flying E Ranch." Boyd's dream of owning a ranch was realized. In 1970, the family left "city life" behind and moved to the ranch for fulltime country living. Using the skills he had learned from his father and his other life experiences, and with his best partner Jane and his crew of four children, he turned the Flying E Ranch into a beautiful ranch, with registered Herefords grazing in the pastures.

In addition to ranching, Boyd owned and operated Caribou Flying Service, and with the help of an additional full-time pilot, the business flew over 4000 hours and had lucrative contracts with the Idaho Fish and Game tracking elk and deer for an expansive research project.

He served as Lincoln County Commissioner from 1978 to 1982. The renovation of the Lincoln County Courthouse in Kemmerer was a source of great pride for him, and he guided several other projects in the county during his tenure as commissioner. He then served in the Wyoming State Senate for a total of fourteen years from 1982 to 1996, leaving office as he finished his last term as Senate President.

After his retirement from the Air Force and completing his service in the Senate, Boyd and Jane made the decision to sell the Flying E Ranch and purchase a home and property in Afton. Boyd spent his retirement years improving his new "mini ranch" in Afton and turning his beloved "Meadow" into a beautiful and treasured haven. After 59 years of marriage and partnership, Jane passed away in July 2014, leaving Boyd without his beloved companion and business partner.

After Jane's death, Boyd met Carol Nield, and they developed a close friendship. They were married on September 5, 2015, and spent their 10 years together traveling, managing and enjoying their beautiful Star Valley properties, their home in St. George, Utah, and sharing life as best friends.

Boyd is survived by his current wife, Carol Nield; children: Becky Eddins Woodcox (David), John Eddins (Trisha), and Jim Eddins (Sandi); grandchildren: Aaron Woodcox (Chelsi), Kathryn Woodcox Esquivel (Drew), Jared Woodcox (Morgan), James Boyd Eddins, Doug Eddins, and McLean Eddins (McKenzie); eleven great-grandchildren; and his older brother, Neil Eddins. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jane Powell Eddins; his parents, LaVell and Kathryn Eddins; his brother, Lael Eddins; and his son, Mark Powell Eddins. He was lovingly embraced by Carol's family, and he loved and greatly appreciated her family members.

A celebration of life for Boyd will be planned at a time yet to be determined. Boyd's family is grateful for the many expressions of kindness and sympathy that have been extended following his death. They are also grateful for the influence of Boyd on their lives, and their treasured memories will be with them as they mourn his loss.

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