In this week’s Edition

 

Mourning the Passing of Our Friend

 

Bonnie Deane Chown Smith

It is with a heavy heart that as a family we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend…Bonnie Deane Chown Smith. At the same time, it is gratitude and peace that we feel, knowing that her suffering is over. 

Bonnie was born on November 15, 1947, in San Gabriel, California to Ruth Joanne Bradbury and Richard Tossell Chown Jr. Surrounded by family on March 16, 2026, Bonnie succumbed peacefully at home to a yearlong debilitating combination of liver cancer and dementia. True to form, she was a fighter to the end. 

Bonnie spent her early years living in several homes in the San Gabriel Valley. She liked to ride her bike, be outdoors, and play with her friends. A love for music started when she began playing the clarinet in the fourth grade. She was the oldest child in her family. By the time she was eleven, she had four siblings…a younger sister - Kathy, and three younger brothers - Bill, Rick, and Barry. It was at this time that a family decision was made to move to Fallbrook, California in north San Diego County. It was hoped that the more favorable climate would benefit her mother who suffered in the L.A. smog. It proved to be a blessing in many ways. 

She made many friends and had a wide variety of experiences caring for the two acre family avocado grove, swimming, riding horses, biking, marching band, dancing and more. Her dad was a California Highway Patrol (CHP) motorcycle officer, and she got a kick out of walking down the road from their home, meeting him as he was returning from work and getting a ride home behind him on his motorcycle. Her first real job was working both inside and as a carhop at her parent’s A&W drive-in. 

At the end of her junior year, her parents decided to move to Quincy in northern California, thinking her dad’s transfer there with the CHP would be a plus. They only stayed one year and returned to Fallbrook. Bonnie graduated from Quincy High School but regretted the rest of her life that she didn’t graduate from Fallbrook Union High School with her many friends there. She attended BYU for a year and a half, then moved to San Diego and completed schooling to be a Medical Assistant. She returned to Utah in the Spring of 1968 and secured employment in the office of an ophthalmologist. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Dennis Smith of Payson, Utah. After only a summer courtship, they married in the Los Angeles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 14, 1968. 

Bonnie worked to support them while Dennis finished his senior year at BYU. After his graduation, they moved to Alhambra, California for his new job. It was there, after only 11 months of marriage, that Bonnie attained the sacred blessing of becoming a mother - a role she cherished and magnified the rest of her life. 

That amazing child was a son, Karlin. Next came a beautiful daughter, Melinda. After three years in Alhambra, their little family moved to Fallbrook to be near Bonnie’s parents and siblings. Over the next few years, four more fantastic children joined the Smith family - Ryan, Nadeane, Eric, and Julia. When the youngest was just two years old, Dennis had a change in employment. Together they decided to open their own business - a private postal center in Fallbrook. To make ends meet as the business grew, Bonnie became a school bus driver and continued driving for the next 19 years, until all the kids had graduated from high school and left home. While in school, they all participated in different sports and other activities, and mom was their biggest fan. As Bonnie’s children gathered several hours before her passing and reminisced about their years in Fallbrook, they all enthusiastically agreed how amazing it was to grow up there, and how their mom had been so instrumental in their lives then, and continuing to her final day. Indeed, her family was her ultimate treasure in this life. 

In 2003 she said to Dennis, “Fallbrook is too big…we need to move.” They decided to move to Dennis’ hometown of Payson, Utah. She easily secured employment and continued as a school bus driver for the next 11 years, retiring in 2014. Many of her 30 years of driving were the routes for special needs children. She was blessed with an exceptional measure of patience and love that made serving all the children she transported a real joy in her life.

Over the years, Bonnie found time for activities such as knitting, gardening, reading, fishing, canning, and dehydrating fruits and vegetables, screen printing, and supporting grandkids in their school and sports activities. She especially enjoyed singing in ward and stake choirs, and spent many years with Choralais, a women’s chorale group in Payson. 

As a faithful, lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bonnie served in many callings in the Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society organizations. She also served 10 years in the San Diego Temple and several years in the Payson Temple. She and Dennis served as missionaries in the Utah Provo Mission. She loved her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with all her heart and exemplified that by the way she lived and loved and served throughout her life. 

Bonnie is survived by her husband, Dennis Smith; her six children Karlin (Trina) Smith, NV; Melinda (Chris) Olson, CO; Ryan (Joanna) Smith, CO; Nadeane (Scott) Paskett, UT; Eric (Sara) Smith, UT; and Julia Smith, UT; her siblings, Kathy (Glen) Geyer, AZ; Rick (Linda) Chown, OR; Barry (Tim) Chown, CA; and 20 grandchildren and five great-granddaughters, with a great-grandson on the way. 

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Bill. 

Our family extends our sincere thanks to Andrea, Cheyenne, and Alexa of Aspen Ridge Hospice for their very loving and tender care they gave to Bonnie. We are also grateful to Walker Funeral Home in Payson for their services.

All services to honor Bonnie will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 586 West 1750 South, Payson, Utah. There will be a visitation on Friday evening, March 27th, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Another visitation will be Saturday morning, March 28th, from 9:30am to 10:30am, followed by her funeral at 11:00am. Burial will follow at the Payson City Cemetery (400 North 800 East, Payson, Utah).

Mourning the Passing of Our Friend

Dean James McCoy

Dean James McCoy, age 87, of Payson, Utah, passed away at his home on March 16, 2026, following an extended illness. A man of kindness, courage, meticulous discipline, and artistic skill, Dean leaves behind a legacy to be admired.

Dean’s life was shaped by his commitment to his country and his community. He honorably served in the United States Army as a chef. Besides the army, his family and community benefitted from his culinary training, especially during the town’s annual Onion Days Salmon Supper.

His professional journey was marked by a tireless work ethic, including his time with the Bureau of Land Reclamation and the Dugway Proving Ground Fire Department. However, his heart belonged to the Payson City Fire Department, where he served with distinction for 60 years. Even though his job was serious in nature, Dean found joy in the simple things, as evidenced by his delight in dying Easter eggs and his fondness for the comic strip character, Snoopy.

When he wasn’t in uniform, Dean was a true craftsman and outdoorsman. He didn’t just fish; he elevated the sport into an art form, creating custom fishing poles and hand-crafted lures that were as beautiful as they were functional. Whether he was seeking salmon on the Columbia River or enjoying the serenity of Lake Powell, Dean had a love of the water and its scaly inhabitants. His love for the outdoors extended to camping, hunting, horseback riding, and 4-wheeling.

Dean was born on April 22, 1938, in Baraboo, Wisconsin to Donald James McCoy and Gertrude Jenette Lindley. From a young age, he learned the value of hard work and the importance of taking meticulous care of his belongings, traits that became hallmarks of his character.

Dean welcomed two sons to his family, David, and Duane, with Barbara Christensen. He and Barbara later divorced. On November 11, 1988, Dean married the love of his life, Maxine Grace, in Lehi, Utah. Together, they built a life centered on service, and a shared love for adventure.

Dean is survived by his wife, Maxine McCoy, his two sons, David J. McCoy and Duane J. McCoy, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Gertrude McCoy, and his sister, Betty Jean Oberg.

Service Information

As per Dean’s request, there will be only graveside services held at 11:00 am on Friday, March 20th at Payson City Cemetery. He will be laid to rest with full military and fire department honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Payson City Fire Department in his memory.

After the graveside service, there will be a luncheon at the Park ward church located at 274 South Main Street in Payson, Utah.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Walker Funeral Home. Condolences may be offered at www.WalkerMemorials.com. 

Party at The Peteetneet

As the nation celebrates its 250 birthday in 2026, so too does a major landmark in Payson City fete a significant milestone. The Peteetneet, which was built as a schoolhouse in 1901, turns 125 this year, and the people who continue to preserve it—the PPP—are planning a celebration.

The party takes place Wednesday night, March 25, at the Peteetneet Museum, starting at 7 PM.

Refreshments, mementos, and a film screening of the building’s restoration are planned. The Peteetneet will also be showing off its newly remodeled restrooms. The public is invited.

The Peteetneet Museum and Cultural Arts Center is located at 10 North 600 East, Payson.

The Center of The Universe

The Payson Exchange Savings Bank (center) of yesterday is The Center of the Universe today — 7 South Main Street, Payson, Utah

https://paysonchronicle.blogspot.com/2017/12/pictures-tell-payson-story-payson_28.html

Our American Story

PICTURED: Martha Hughes Cannon—Utah pioneer, noted physician, and the first female to serve as United States senator—shown here with her infant daughter, Gwendolyn Hughes Cannon (1899).

 

The 250th anniversary of our nation is not only a time to look back, but also to look forward. Many see 2026 as an opportunity to confront the country’s imperfections while honoring its resilience. Conversations about democracy, equality, and freedom are as vital today as they were in 1776.

Join the conversation.

We want to know what being an American means to you. What are your hopes for our nation’s future? 

Send us your American story in essay form, as an original poem, or composed in lyrics to a song—all for consideration of publication in The Payson Chronicle in the weeks leading up to America's 250th birthday celebration. 

Send your submission to paysonchronicle@gmail.com, or submit in person or by mail at 145 East Utah Avenue #5, Payson, Utah 84651.

The Barbers of Payson

 The Barber Shop at 12 South Main

(our long-ago location, too)

Payson, Utah

#badham #barber #zekedean #barbershop #downtownpayson

In this week’s edition of The Payson Chronicle

 

Modern Pharmacy—Sanford B Wilson Proprietor

 

Sanford Bird Wilson’s Modern Pharmacy (early 1900s) — A building formerly located on southwest corner of Main and Utah Avenue streets, in Payson, Utah.

#historicdowntownpayson #utahavenue #oldtimedrugstores #paysonchronicle #readthepaysonchronicle

The Birthday Boy!

It’s Mike’s birthday today! 

Wish him a happy one. 🎂

#yousayitsyourbirthday🎶 #itsmikesbirthday #tooyeah #paysonchronicle #thepaysonchronicle 

Payson City Library

 

Mourning the Passing of Our Friend

 

Joan Pickering Watkins

Payson lost one of its most fashionable residents on March 6, 2026, when Joan Pickering Watkins passed peacefully after a two-year battle with cancer at home surrounded by family.

Born on September 8, 1946, to Ferron Wright Pickering and Eliza Madeline Elmer, Joan was a lifetime resident of Payson.  A 1964 graduate of Payson High School, she spent junior high and high school days as a drummer in the band and a member of the pep club. On March 27, 1965, she married William Kay Watkins in Payson, beginning a 61-year partnership built on family and a very well-curated wardrobe.

Joan’s work ethic started early at the Payson Hospital laundry at age 14. Over the years, she worked at City Drug and Barbazon, where she eventually became a supervisor. Following two years at the Spanish Fork Clinic, Joan spent the next 33 years at Orthopedic Associates Payson office, where her professionalism was matched only by her style.

Joan was a woman who was always stylishly dressed, whether she was heading to the office or just grabbing the mail. Her love for shopping became one of her favorite hobbies. She also enjoyed golfing, all sorts of handwork, and tending to her yard. She especially cherished her vacations to Ohio and Arizona to visit her girls and their families. She was always stylishly packed and ready for the next adventure.

While she spent her early married life in the community as a founding member of the Payson Phi Delta Cultus and a President of the women’s association of the Jaycees, Joan’s heart was always at home. For 45 years, her house was the Saturday morning destination for a small, tight-knit group of family and friends. There was always a fresh pot of coffee, plenty of conversation, and a warm welcome for those she loved most.

Joan will be missed by many and is survived by her husband, Kay Watkins; her daughters, Kim (Joe) Carter of Delaware, OH, and Alison (Craig) Spencer of Queen Creek, AZ; her sister, Karma Whitelock of Payson; and her 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her stepmother Winona Bale Francom Pickering and her brother Hale Pickering.

In a final act of perfect timing, Joan began her next adventure just minutes before her dear friend Jay Sullivan. We find comfort imagining the two of them—lifelong friends and travel companions—meeting at the gates with a laugh and a shared joke, ready to take on the next life together.

The family wishes a heartfelt thank you to the iCare Hospice team of Bonnie Valdez, Holly Carter and Cami Jensen.

A Final Coffee with Joan

In honor of our favorite family weekly tradition, the family invites you to join us for a final Saturday morning coffee and donuts.  Please come join us for an open house to celebrate her and a life well-lived.

Saturday, March 21st The Clarion Reception Center (463 East 100 North, Payson, Utah) 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, followed by a graveside service at the Payson City Cemetery (400 North 800 East, Payson, Utah). 

Historic Payson

Joseph Longking Townsend Home -- Formerly located on First East between 400 and 500 South, Payson, Utah

https://paysonchronicle.blogspot.com/2018/08/pictures-tell-payson-story-payson.html

#ctr #daydawnisbreaking #paysonutah #paysonchronicle #thepaysonchronicle #readthepaysonchronicle

Historic Payson

 

Lodasca “Dassie” Dixon & Ann Bingham (c1880) 

Payson, Utah

#historicpayson #paysonchronicle #thepaysonchronicle #readthepaysonchronicle #dixonfairbanks

Mourning the Passing of Our Friend

 

 

                              LEWIS Y. BALZLY 

 

On March 7, 2026, our beloved husband and father, Lewis Yardley Balzly, returned to his loving Father in Heaven at age 44 due to complications from a brain aneurysm. He was surrounded by the love of his life and his beautiful family. We feel peace knowing that our Big Daddy Lew is serving in God’s kingdom and fulfilling his calling there.

Lewis was born to Rhonda Lee Hansen Markworth and Darris Mark Balzly on Nov. 17th, 1981. He spent his childhood in Payson riding bikes with his cousins and friends and working at his uncle’s sawmill. His love of classic cars stemmed from afternoons spent under the hood of many a vehicle with his dad. He took great pride in working in his grandparents’ garden alongside his sister Candice.

Lewis was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. He had a passionate gift for helping others and serving his community. Lewis was known as our family’s “MacGyver.” Whether it was cars, tractors, or broken hearts, his gentle hands were always willing to fix what needed mending and he met every challenge with faith and strength.

Lewis met the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Tami Fowers, and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on October 11, 2002. For the next 23 years they created a beautiful, strong life and were blessed with four children: McLayne, Carsten, Scarlett, and Madelyn.

He was the strongest, most loving, patient, and gentle leader we could have asked for. He gave us a shining example of unconditional, Christlike love and charity. His kind heart, brilliant mind, and bright personality were felt by everyone who knew him.

Lewis had a deep love for antique cars and fixing things. You could always find him at a car show, at NAPA, or in someone’s garage solving a problem. He was a master of the wrench and could work on almost anything. If he didn’t know how to fix it, he would learn how—and come back to it, even if it was just to give advice over the phone. “Lewie in the Studie” loved his Studebaker cars; working on them and taking them to car shows was one of his greatest passions.

Lewis loved the outdoors—whether it was snowmobiling with his boys, fishing with his girls, dirt biking, or taking his family camping. He was always the first one to help get you unstuck on the mountain or to help repair your bike. He loved spending time in Yellowstone with his wife Tami. He had a deep appreciation for nature and would often take pictures of sunsets over the farm to share with his loved ones.

Lewis served on the Genola Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years. He took pride in protecting his community and helping those in need. He valued the friendships he made while serving alongside his brothers in the department. The camaraderie they shared was a constant blessing in his life.

He was also a devoted farmer who loved working with his wife and children in the orchard—whether fixing equipment or packing fruit, they cherished their time together. Lewis had a passion for teaching others about the miracle of agriculture, especially to the next generation of farmers. He was a true jack of all trades—from driving the semi to keeping the irrigation systems running and everything in between. He served as a leader for several years in the fruit-growing industry on the National Cherry Board and the Utah Apple Marketing Board.

Lewis has a deep love for his Savior and a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. He loved serving in his church callings and never failed to share his love and light of the gospel with others. Lewis served faithfully in many callings, including ward clerk, several Elder’s Quorum presidency roles, Young Men’s leader, and most recently, Sunday School president. He had a love for the temple and enjoyed attending as often as he could. He took great pride in helping his children progress along the covenant path.

Lewis was larger than life, the greatest example we could have asked for. He was never one to walk away when someone needed a hand and could somehow fix your car with a phone call or have you laughing within minutes. We carry on by trusting in God’s plan for him and by honoring his legacy through love, honesty, forgiveness, and respect. Live like he did. Live like Lewis.

Lewis was preceded in death by his father, Mark Balzly. He is survived by his loving mother Rhonda Markworth, stepfather Shaun Markworth; his wife Tami; his four children McLayne, Carsten, Scarlett, and Madelyn; and his sister Candice Nelson.

Services:

Viewing
Friday, March 13, 2026 — 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 14, 2026 — 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

 

Funeral Service
Saturday, March 14, 2026 — 11:00 a.m.
Genola Stake Center
987 S Anna Ekins Memorial Lane
Genola, Utah 84655

The dedication of the grave will be held at the Genola Cemetery directly following the funeral service.

We invite you to join the procession in your classic cars or trucks on the way to the cemetery so that we can send Lewis home with one last car show.

 

Historic Payson

C. Reece & Sons — 51 South Main, Payson, Utah

https://paysonchronicle.blogspot.com/2017/01/pictures-tell-payson-story-payson.html

CHRONICLE PICKS

CHRONICLE PICKS

What we are reading:

Travels with Charley — in Search of America 

By John Steinbeck

In This Week’s Edition of The Payson Chronicle

 

Santaquin History

 

Santaquin City Scrapbook — Chieftain Museum

https://paysonchronicle.blogspot.com/2021/08/backstreet-bright-spots.html

#santaquinhistory #paysonchronicle

Historic Payson

 

Colvin and Reece Company (circa 1915)

https://paysonchronicle.blogspot.com/2018/02/pictures-tell-payson-story-payson.html

#historicpayson #paysonutah #paysonchronicle #thepaysonchronicle #downtownpayson

Historic Payson

PAYSON IMPLEMENT

https://paysonchronicle.blogspot.com/2016/03/payson-historical-society-yesterday-and_23.html

FEATURED ADVERTISER: Just Call Cas!

 

Thank You

 

Lions

Celebrate the benevolent, the humanitarian,

and the kind.

Join the Payson Lions Club.

And read The Payson Chronicle.

#rosstheboss

Historic Payson

 Barber Shop at 12 South Main Street, Payson, Utah 

In This Week’s Edition of The Payson Chronicle

 

Mourning the Passing of Our Friend

Susan Hope Neill Gillham

1947 - 2026

Susan Gillham passed away on February 28, 2026, after a long, hard medical fight. A viewing will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Payson 6th Ward, 5237 West 10400 South, Payson, UT.

Sue will be missed by her family. She and her husband Dick brought broasted chicken and home cooking to The Old Bonnet Factory in Mayfield, UT 20 years ago. They enjoyed the people and community; settling in Gunnison after they retired. They moved to Payson as their health needs increased and they were given care and support from the Payson 6th Ward. We are grateful for love and kindness extended to them.

To read the full obituary  please visit https://www.springerturner.com/obituaries. In lieu of flowers, we encourage donations to the IMC Liver Transplant Team and their efforts to help others.