Vern Vivion
Vern Vivion, a longtime rancher and former President of the National Woolgrowers Association, died May 6, 2014 in Casper, Wyoming. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles (Grace Murray) Vivion, Vern was President of Rocky Mountain Sheep Company, Leo Sheep Company, partner in the Clover Valley Ranch in Walden, Colorado, and President of Elk Mountain Safari, Inc.
His passion for Wyoming’s heritage and public service fueled a lifetime of diverse and impactful achievements. He served two terms in the Wyoming House of Representatives, was chairman of the Council of State Governments Western Division Agricultural Committee, served as chairman of the national committee to draft an interstate compact for the control of agricultural pests and diseases, was selected as Wyoming’s representative to the Interstate Conference on Water Problems, and served as chairman of the Wyoming Council for Economic Development.
As a lifetime advocate of the sheep industry, he was President of the Wyoming Wool Growers Association and President of the National Woolgrowers Association, serving as an international ambassador and lobbyist for matters related to lamb and wool production.
Vern graduated from Rawlins High School in 1944. He attended the University of Wyoming where he was a member of the men’s basketball team, graduating in 1948 with a degree in Journalism.
He is survived by his wife Della (Maier), a native of Sheridan, daughters, Valri Vivon of Denver, Colorado, Kristin (William) Thompson of Casper, Wyoming, and Mary Vivion-Withrow (Bradley Withrow) of Mesa, Arizona; nine grandchildren, six greatgrandchildren, and his brother Dr. Charles (Betty) Vivion of Laramie. He was preceded in death by his brother Robert.
A memorial service was held on May 17 at St Thomas Episcopal Church in Rawlins.
