2016 Covill Funeral Home www.covillfuneralhome.com/obituary/3679925
Connie Sue Binning
January 19, 1944 - April 27, 2016
On April 27, 2016 heaven welcomed home a lovely lady-Connie Sue Skorcz Binning. After fighting a brave battle against leukemia cancer, she died at her home near Cora, Wyoming. Connie, 72, was born on January 19, 1944 to Michael Louis and Dorothy Ann Jones Skorcz in Grant County, Sheridan, Arkansas.
She is preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Frank Skorcz and his wife, Evelyn; sister-in-law, Shirley (Leo Skorcz); brother-in-law, Rhea (Binning) and Paul Sahler.
Connie’s early years were spent in Arkansas where her family earned their living raising big gardens, honey bees, and cotton. When she was five years old, her dad contracted tuberculosis, so her family purchased a 1 ½ ton truck, loaded all their belongings, and moved to the high, dry plains of the Farson/Eden Valley, Wyoming, arriving on April 1, 1949 in an epic blizzard. Despite the cold and snow, Connie and her siblings were excited to run across the hard, drifted snow banks and specially glad to never spot a dreaded Arkansas snake or the big spiders in the root cellar! It was in this expansive valley that Connie’s precious memories began to take root. Revealed in a recent collection of Connie’s own handwritten stories, a childhood of adventure unfolded for the young, blonde, curly-headed lass.
Her family grew from one small home on her Uncle John’s old dairy, to another farm they called the Greek Place, and then, yet a larger one at Farson-and all the while the entire family worked hard raising chickens to sell eggs, bees for honey, and irrigating the land for hay. Connie’s dad also worked night jobs moving irrigation water from pond to pond, softening the ground so construction crews could build the Big Sandy Reservoir. Connie even made a little money-selling worms to fishermen for one cent each and then proudly bought a pair of $12 sandals.
The family always worked together and played together; they were rarely left at home alone. The kids’ Uncle Hershel built stilts for them that progressively got taller and taller, and they hung giant swings that spanned the ancient cottonwood trees. Connie wrote about playing ball near her Dad’s beehives. . When the kids’ ball rolled over next to the hive, a big decision had to be made! Connie, being “the brave soul,” got her coat and put it over her head, just leaving her eyes exposed. She did retrieve the ball, but got stung three times on her eyebrows, which swelled her eye shut.
Time passed and into this valley of Eden, journeyed a sixteen-year-old young man, William Perry Binning, who would spot his future bride as she and her mother loaded hay bales onto the back of an old truck. With a gleam in his eye, Perry recalled thinking: “I’ve got to marry a woman like that!” And so it came to pass, that on one fine day in Pinedale, Wyoming, Perry’s good friends, Fred Boyce and Jim Noble, and their girlfriends, Barbara and Margret Skorcz, and little sister Connie, dropped by Perry’s home to pick him up for a date which set in motion the couple’s destiny. Not so easy, at first, though! Upon seeing young Perry with a lariat rope in hand, swinging at a stationary “bovine,” Connie promptly labeled him a show-off! It took some doing, but in due time, Perry won the heart of the 13-year-old young lady. They found ways to see each other with Perry traveling quite regularly between Pinedale and the Eden Valley, attending dances and local event, until Connie graduated from high school in Farson in May, 1962.
On June 2, 1962, Perry and Connie were happily wed in Pinedale’s Community Church and later were sealed for eternity in the LDS Temple in Logan, Utah on July 16, 1982. The young couple literally “made” their home on the banks of Pine Creek in Shelter Park, putting their talents for building to work constructing their first home, and also happily welcoming the births of their children, Holly and Darin. While the home was under construction, they lived in a sheep camp until the snow flew. Perry said they even had running water! Connie would run to the creek and then run a pail of water back to the house! And they had electricity, too! What more could a young couple in love need? But, wait! They needed windows for their new home, so Connie hired out to her brother-in-law, Jim Noble, during haying time to help buy them.
By now, Perry and Fred Boyce had started a business together-B and B Repair-with Connie helping with the bookwork. As time passed, Perry left the business and he and Connie, together with Holly and Darin started a family business building log garages, log home, and woodcraft such as lamps for people, many of which were given as gifts. This was Connie’s own little family, now, who always worked together and played together-hunting, water-skiing, snow skiing, dancing, living, and loving life, and each other. In the mid-70s’ they started the Binning Sawmill at the Cora Junction and in the early 1980s, together, built the home of their dreams in the beautiful Upper Green River Valley where they lived year-round until the recent years of Connie’s Illness.
In January of 1985 Dorothy came to live with Connie and Perry. They both saw Dorothy through many adventures such as her attending college to going on her mission to Canada. Later in September of 2009 Perry, Connie, Holly, Darin and Dorothy were sealed in the temple as a family. Connie and Perry would always help all of their kids with what ever would help them out. Connie was Dorothy’s first missionary companion for 5 days before she went to the MTC, and they made a great team trying to get all of the family genealogy figured out. Connie was a top supporter and chauffeur for Holly and Darin during each Nordic ski season, traveling throughout Wyoming, Utah, Montana, and then to the Olympic try-outs. Connie served on the board of the Upper Green River Valley cemetery district for over 20 years; she was a campfire leader for Madge Funk for 15 years; and a Cub Scout leader and church primary teacher. She played women’s softball from its Pinedale inception, for 12 years, under the sponsorship of the telephone company. Connie’s team was never beaten, and daughter Holly says that “the old girls really showed the young girls how the game was played!” Holly says that her mom was very strong-willed and competitive. “If you wanted to tease around and try to throw Connie in the lake, you’d better plan to get wet, too!” Connie loved to sew and quilt, when time permitted her to leave her husband’s side in the workshop. She always loved preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, because she knew that lots of family would be there to share her traditional meals of yams and turkey, ham, salads, and home-baked breads and desserts. Mainstay meals the rest of the year were her signature elk steak, mashed potatoes, and veggies. She also kept her family guests at anytime fueled up with the best pancake breakfasts. Connie tried to have a flower garden at their mountain home, but she inevitably had to share it with the chipmunks and squirrels. She and Perry loved animals and had a special knack for befriending the wild ones. They had several pine marten pets and even made friends with a fox and a bear!
Each year at Christmas time, it became a tradition for Connie to start and then add to each of her grandkid’s Hallmark decorations, such as trains for Kaylum, fairies for Madelyn, horses for Shilo and so forth. Each of her children and grandchildren were always treated to special birthday meals and cakes decorated by Connie, if they were available. In most recent years, in early spring-from early March to May’s end, when it became too hot and too many snakes, Perry and Connie would venture to the Apple Valley/, St. George, Utah area to ride four wheelers and rock hound. Many of the family were blessed to be able to join them and share in God’s great creation.
During the past three years, Connie, knowing she was ill, set about helping Holly with her projects. They built a barn, among other projects and began working on Holly’s new house. Because Connie’s expertise was in math, numbers, and house plans, her knowledge was always invaluable.
For nearly 54 years, Connie and Perry Binning have been and always will be workmates and soul mates. Their love is bigger than the purple mountains and wider than the green valleys of their home. And somewhere up there, in those beloved mountains, is Connie’s Glacier, named for her by the local, adventuresome, mountain legend, Finis Mitchell, inspired by Connie’s big hear and spirit, quiet grace and majesty. She loved her life; she loved her family and friends.
Connie will be greatly missed by everyone who knew this lovely woman. Left to hold close Connie’s memories and legacy are husband, Perry; children and grandchildren: daughter Holly (James) Thayne/ Kaylum, Shilo, Kelly (Mitch)/Kati, Jake (Marci)/ Brynley, Jackson; son Darin (Aimee) Binning/Perry, Madelyn (Jennifer), Ashton Rogers, Dominic Vaughn, Amelie and Darin Quin Binning: Chosen daughter-Dorothy (Michael) Roberts/Beth Hendricks; sisters, Margret (James) Noble; Barbara Boyce; Kathy (Kelly) Brown; brothers, Edward (Fern) Skorcz; Leo Skorcz; sister-in-law, Deedee (Binning); and 20 nieces and 20 nephews.
Connie Sue Binning
January 19, 1944 - April 27, 2016
On April 27, 2016 heaven welcomed home a lovely lady-Connie Sue Skorcz Binning. After fighting a brave battle against leukemia cancer, she died at her home near Cora, Wyoming. Connie, 72, was born on January 19, 1944 to Michael Louis and Dorothy Ann Jones Skorcz in Grant County, Sheridan, Arkansas.
She is preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Frank Skorcz and his wife, Evelyn; sister-in-law, Shirley (Leo Skorcz); brother-in-law, Rhea (Binning) and Paul Sahler.
Connie’s early years were spent in Arkansas where her family earned their living raising big gardens, honey bees, and cotton. When she was five years old, her dad contracted tuberculosis, so her family purchased a 1 ½ ton truck, loaded all their belongings, and moved to the high, dry plains of the Farson/Eden Valley, Wyoming, arriving on April 1, 1949 in an epic blizzard. Despite the cold and snow, Connie and her siblings were excited to run across the hard, drifted snow banks and specially glad to never spot a dreaded Arkansas snake or the big spiders in the root cellar! It was in this expansive valley that Connie’s precious memories began to take root. Revealed in a recent collection of Connie’s own handwritten stories, a childhood of adventure unfolded for the young, blonde, curly-headed lass.
Her family grew from one small home on her Uncle John’s old dairy, to another farm they called the Greek Place, and then, yet a larger one at Farson-and all the while the entire family worked hard raising chickens to sell eggs, bees for honey, and irrigating the land for hay. Connie’s dad also worked night jobs moving irrigation water from pond to pond, softening the ground so construction crews could build the Big Sandy Reservoir. Connie even made a little money-selling worms to fishermen for one cent each and then proudly bought a pair of $12 sandals.
The family always worked together and played together; they were rarely left at home alone. The kids’ Uncle Hershel built stilts for them that progressively got taller and taller, and they hung giant swings that spanned the ancient cottonwood trees. Connie wrote about playing ball near her Dad’s beehives. . When the kids’ ball rolled over next to the hive, a big decision had to be made! Connie, being “the brave soul,” got her coat and put it over her head, just leaving her eyes exposed. She did retrieve the ball, but got stung three times on her eyebrows, which swelled her eye shut.
Time passed and into this valley of Eden, journeyed a sixteen-year-old young man, William Perry Binning, who would spot his future bride as she and her mother loaded hay bales onto the back of an old truck. With a gleam in his eye, Perry recalled thinking: “I’ve got to marry a woman like that!” And so it came to pass, that on one fine day in Pinedale, Wyoming, Perry’s good friends, Fred Boyce and Jim Noble, and their girlfriends, Barbara and Margret Skorcz, and little sister Connie, dropped by Perry’s home to pick him up for a date which set in motion the couple’s destiny. Not so easy, at first, though! Upon seeing young Perry with a lariat rope in hand, swinging at a stationary “bovine,” Connie promptly labeled him a show-off! It took some doing, but in due time, Perry won the heart of the 13-year-old young lady. They found ways to see each other with Perry traveling quite regularly between Pinedale and the Eden Valley, attending dances and local event, until Connie graduated from high school in Farson in May, 1962.
On June 2, 1962, Perry and Connie were happily wed in Pinedale’s Community Church and later were sealed for eternity in the LDS Temple in Logan, Utah on July 16, 1982. The young couple literally “made” their home on the banks of Pine Creek in Shelter Park, putting their talents for building to work constructing their first home, and also happily welcoming the births of their children, Holly and Darin. While the home was under construction, they lived in a sheep camp until the snow flew. Perry said they even had running water! Connie would run to the creek and then run a pail of water back to the house! And they had electricity, too! What more could a young couple in love need? But, wait! They needed windows for their new home, so Connie hired out to her brother-in-law, Jim Noble, during haying time to help buy them.
By now, Perry and Fred Boyce had started a business together-B and B Repair-with Connie helping with the bookwork. As time passed, Perry left the business and he and Connie, together with Holly and Darin started a family business building log garages, log home, and woodcraft such as lamps for people, many of which were given as gifts. This was Connie’s own little family, now, who always worked together and played together-hunting, water-skiing, snow skiing, dancing, living, and loving life, and each other. In the mid-70s’ they started the Binning Sawmill at the Cora Junction and in the early 1980s, together, built the home of their dreams in the beautiful Upper Green River Valley where they lived year-round until the recent years of Connie’s Illness.
In January of 1985 Dorothy came to live with Connie and Perry. They both saw Dorothy through many adventures such as her attending college to going on her mission to Canada. Later in September of 2009 Perry, Connie, Holly, Darin and Dorothy were sealed in the temple as a family. Connie and Perry would always help all of their kids with what ever would help them out. Connie was Dorothy’s first missionary companion for 5 days before she went to the MTC, and they made a great team trying to get all of the family genealogy figured out. Connie was a top supporter and chauffeur for Holly and Darin during each Nordic ski season, traveling throughout Wyoming, Utah, Montana, and then to the Olympic try-outs. Connie served on the board of the Upper Green River Valley cemetery district for over 20 years; she was a campfire leader for Madge Funk for 15 years; and a Cub Scout leader and church primary teacher. She played women’s softball from its Pinedale inception, for 12 years, under the sponsorship of the telephone company. Connie’s team was never beaten, and daughter Holly says that “the old girls really showed the young girls how the game was played!” Holly says that her mom was very strong-willed and competitive. “If you wanted to tease around and try to throw Connie in the lake, you’d better plan to get wet, too!” Connie loved to sew and quilt, when time permitted her to leave her husband’s side in the workshop. She always loved preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, because she knew that lots of family would be there to share her traditional meals of yams and turkey, ham, salads, and home-baked breads and desserts. Mainstay meals the rest of the year were her signature elk steak, mashed potatoes, and veggies. She also kept her family guests at anytime fueled up with the best pancake breakfasts. Connie tried to have a flower garden at their mountain home, but she inevitably had to share it with the chipmunks and squirrels. She and Perry loved animals and had a special knack for befriending the wild ones. They had several pine marten pets and even made friends with a fox and a bear!
Each year at Christmas time, it became a tradition for Connie to start and then add to each of her grandkid’s Hallmark decorations, such as trains for Kaylum, fairies for Madelyn, horses for Shilo and so forth. Each of her children and grandchildren were always treated to special birthday meals and cakes decorated by Connie, if they were available. In most recent years, in early spring-from early March to May’s end, when it became too hot and too many snakes, Perry and Connie would venture to the Apple Valley/, St. George, Utah area to ride four wheelers and rock hound. Many of the family were blessed to be able to join them and share in God’s great creation.
During the past three years, Connie, knowing she was ill, set about helping Holly with her projects. They built a barn, among other projects and began working on Holly’s new house. Because Connie’s expertise was in math, numbers, and house plans, her knowledge was always invaluable.
For nearly 54 years, Connie and Perry Binning have been and always will be workmates and soul mates. Their love is bigger than the purple mountains and wider than the green valleys of their home. And somewhere up there, in those beloved mountains, is Connie’s Glacier, named for her by the local, adventuresome, mountain legend, Finis Mitchell, inspired by Connie’s big hear and spirit, quiet grace and majesty. She loved her life; she loved her family and friends.
Connie will be greatly missed by everyone who knew this lovely woman. Left to hold close Connie’s memories and legacy are husband, Perry; children and grandchildren: daughter Holly (James) Thayne/ Kaylum, Shilo, Kelly (Mitch)/Kati, Jake (Marci)/ Brynley, Jackson; son Darin (Aimee) Binning/Perry, Madelyn (Jennifer), Ashton Rogers, Dominic Vaughn, Amelie and Darin Quin Binning: Chosen daughter-Dorothy (Michael) Roberts/Beth Hendricks; sisters, Margret (James) Noble; Barbara Boyce; Kathy (Kelly) Brown; brothers, Edward (Fern) Skorcz; Leo Skorcz; sister-in-law, Deedee (Binning); and 20 nieces and 20 nephews.
2016 Covill Funeral Home www.covillfuneralhome.com/obituary/3679925
Connie Sue Binning
January 19, 1944 - April 27, 2016
On April 27, 2016 heaven welcomed home a lovely lady-Connie Sue Skorcz Binning. After fighting a brave battle against leukemia cancer, she died at her home near Cora, Wyoming. Connie, 72, was born on January 19, 1944 to Michael Louis and Dorothy Ann Jones Skorcz in Grant County, Sheridan, Arkansas.
She is preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Frank Skorcz and his wife, Evelyn; sister-in-law, Shirley (Leo Skorcz); brother-in-law, Rhea (Binning) and Paul Sahler.
Connie’s early years were spent in Arkansas where her family earned their living raising big gardens, honey bees, and cotton. When she was five years old, her dad contracted tuberculosis, so her family purchased a 1 ½ ton truck, loaded all their belongings, and moved to the high, dry plains of the Farson/Eden Valley, Wyoming, arriving on April 1, 1949 in an epic blizzard. Despite the cold and snow, Connie and her siblings were excited to run across the hard, drifted snow banks and specially glad to never spot a dreaded Arkansas snake or the big spiders in the root cellar! It was in this expansive valley that Connie’s precious memories began to take root. Revealed in a recent collection of Connie’s own handwritten stories, a childhood of adventure unfolded for the young, blonde, curly-headed lass.
Her family grew from one small home on her Uncle John’s old dairy, to another farm they called the Greek Place, and then, yet a larger one at Farson-and all the while the entire family worked hard raising chickens to sell eggs, bees for honey, and irrigating the land for hay. Connie’s dad also worked night jobs moving irrigation water from pond to pond, softening the ground so construction crews could build the Big Sandy Reservoir. Connie even made a little money-selling worms to fishermen for one cent each and then proudly bought a pair of $12 sandals.
The family always worked together and played together; they were rarely left at home alone. The kids’ Uncle Hershel built stilts for them that progressively got taller and taller, and they hung giant swings that spanned the ancient cottonwood trees. Connie wrote about playing ball near her Dad’s beehives. . When the kids’ ball rolled over next to the hive, a big decision had to be made! Connie, being “the brave soul,” got her coat and put it over her head, just leaving her eyes exposed. She did retrieve the ball, but got stung three times on her eyebrows, which swelled her eye shut.
Time passed and into this valley of Eden, journeyed a sixteen-year-old young man, William Perry Binning, who would spot his future bride as she and her mother loaded hay bales onto the back of an old truck. With a gleam in his eye, Perry recalled thinking: “I’ve got to marry a woman like that!” And so it came to pass, that on one fine day in Pinedale, Wyoming, Perry’s good friends, Fred Boyce and Jim Noble, and their girlfriends, Barbara and Margret Skorcz, and little sister Connie, dropped by Perry’s home to pick him up for a date which set in motion the couple’s destiny. Not so easy, at first, though! Upon seeing young Perry with a lariat rope in hand, swinging at a stationary “bovine,” Connie promptly labeled him a show-off! It took some doing, but in due time, Perry won the heart of the 13-year-old young lady. They found ways to see each other with Perry traveling quite regularly between Pinedale and the Eden Valley, attending dances and local event, until Connie graduated from high school in Farson in May, 1962.
On June 2, 1962, Perry and Connie were happily wed in Pinedale’s Community Church and later were sealed for eternity in the LDS Temple in Logan, Utah on July 16, 1982. The young couple literally “made” their home on the banks of Pine Creek in Shelter Park, putting their talents for building to work constructing their first home, and also happily welcoming the births of their children, Holly and Darin. While the home was under construction, they lived in a sheep camp until the snow flew. Perry said they even had running water! Connie would run to the creek and then run a pail of water back to the house! And they had electricity, too! What more could a young couple in love need? But, wait! They needed windows for their new home, so Connie hired out to her brother-in-law, Jim Noble, during haying time to help buy them.
By now, Perry and Fred Boyce had started a business together-B and B Repair-with Connie helping with the bookwork. As time passed, Perry left the business and he and Connie, together with Holly and Darin started a family business building log garages, log home, and woodcraft such as lamps for people, many of which were given as gifts. This was Connie’s own little family, now, who always worked together and played together-hunting, water-skiing, snow skiing, dancing, living, and loving life, and each other. In the mid-70s’ they started the Binning Sawmill at the Cora Junction and in the early 1980s, together, built the home of their dreams in the beautiful Upper Green River Valley where they lived year-round until the recent years of Connie’s Illness.
In January of 1985 Dorothy came to live with Connie and Perry. They both saw Dorothy through many adventures such as her attending college to going on her mission to Canada. Later in September of 2009 Perry, Connie, Holly, Darin and Dorothy were sealed in the temple as a family. Connie and Perry would always help all of their kids with what ever would help them out. Connie was Dorothy’s first missionary companion for 5 days before she went to the MTC, and they made a great team trying to get all of the family genealogy figured out. Connie was a top supporter and chauffeur for Holly and Darin during each Nordic ski season, traveling throughout Wyoming, Utah, Montana, and then to the Olympic try-outs. Connie served on the board of the Upper Green River Valley cemetery district for over 20 years; she was a campfire leader for Madge Funk for 15 years; and a Cub Scout leader and church primary teacher. She played women’s softball from its Pinedale inception, for 12 years, under the sponsorship of the telephone company. Connie’s team was never beaten, and daughter Holly says that “the old girls really showed the young girls how the game was played!” Holly says that her mom was very strong-willed and competitive. “If you wanted to tease around and try to throw Connie in the lake, you’d better plan to get wet, too!” Connie loved to sew and quilt, when time permitted her to leave her husband’s side in the workshop. She always loved preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, because she knew that lots of family would be there to share her traditional meals of yams and turkey, ham, salads, and home-baked breads and desserts. Mainstay meals the rest of the year were her signature elk steak, mashed potatoes, and veggies. She also kept her family guests at anytime fueled up with the best pancake breakfasts. Connie tried to have a flower garden at their mountain home, but she inevitably had to share it with the chipmunks and squirrels. She and Perry loved animals and had a special knack for befriending the wild ones. They had several pine marten pets and even made friends with a fox and a bear!
Each year at Christmas time, it became a tradition for Connie to start and then add to each of her grandkid’s Hallmark decorations, such as trains for Kaylum, fairies for Madelyn, horses for Shilo and so forth. Each of her children and grandchildren were always treated to special birthday meals and cakes decorated by Connie, if they were available. In most recent years, in early spring-from early March to May’s end, when it became too hot and too many snakes, Perry and Connie would venture to the Apple Valley/, St. George, Utah area to ride four wheelers and rock hound. Many of the family were blessed to be able to join them and share in God’s great creation.
During the past three years, Connie, knowing she was ill, set about helping Holly with her projects. They built a barn, among other projects and began working on Holly’s new house. Because Connie’s expertise was in math, numbers, and house plans, her knowledge was always invaluable.
For nearly 54 years, Connie and Perry Binning have been and always will be workmates and soul mates. Their love is bigger than the purple mountains and wider than the green valleys of their home. And somewhere up there, in those beloved mountains, is Connie’s Glacier, named for her by the local, adventuresome, mountain legend, Finis Mitchell, inspired by Connie’s big hear and spirit, quiet grace and majesty. She loved her life; she loved her family and friends.
Connie will be greatly missed by everyone who knew this lovely woman. Left to hold close Connie’s memories and legacy are husband, Perry; children and grandchildren: daughter Holly (James) Thayne/ Kaylum, Shilo, Kelly (Mitch)/Kati, Jake (Marci)/ Brynley, Jackson; son Darin (Aimee) Binning/Perry, Madelyn (Jennifer), Ashton Rogers, Dominic Vaughn, Amelie and Darin Quin Binning: Chosen daughter-Dorothy (Michael) Roberts/Beth Hendricks; sisters, Margret (James) Noble; Barbara Boyce; Kathy (Kelly) Brown; brothers, Edward (Fern) Skorcz; Leo Skorcz; sister-in-law, Deedee (Binning); and 20 nieces and 20 nephews.
Connie Sue Binning
January 19, 1944 - April 27, 2016
On April 27, 2016 heaven welcomed home a lovely lady-Connie Sue Skorcz Binning. After fighting a brave battle against leukemia cancer, she died at her home near Cora, Wyoming. Connie, 72, was born on January 19, 1944 to Michael Louis and Dorothy Ann Jones Skorcz in Grant County, Sheridan, Arkansas.
She is preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Frank Skorcz and his wife, Evelyn; sister-in-law, Shirley (Leo Skorcz); brother-in-law, Rhea (Binning) and Paul Sahler.
Connie’s early years were spent in Arkansas where her family earned their living raising big gardens, honey bees, and cotton. When she was five years old, her dad contracted tuberculosis, so her family purchased a 1 ½ ton truck, loaded all their belongings, and moved to the high, dry plains of the Farson/Eden Valley, Wyoming, arriving on April 1, 1949 in an epic blizzard. Despite the cold and snow, Connie and her siblings were excited to run across the hard, drifted snow banks and specially glad to never spot a dreaded Arkansas snake or the big spiders in the root cellar! It was in this expansive valley that Connie’s precious memories began to take root. Revealed in a recent collection of Connie’s own handwritten stories, a childhood of adventure unfolded for the young, blonde, curly-headed lass.
Her family grew from one small home on her Uncle John’s old dairy, to another farm they called the Greek Place, and then, yet a larger one at Farson-and all the while the entire family worked hard raising chickens to sell eggs, bees for honey, and irrigating the land for hay. Connie’s dad also worked night jobs moving irrigation water from pond to pond, softening the ground so construction crews could build the Big Sandy Reservoir. Connie even made a little money-selling worms to fishermen for one cent each and then proudly bought a pair of $12 sandals.
The family always worked together and played together; they were rarely left at home alone. The kids’ Uncle Hershel built stilts for them that progressively got taller and taller, and they hung giant swings that spanned the ancient cottonwood trees. Connie wrote about playing ball near her Dad’s beehives. . When the kids’ ball rolled over next to the hive, a big decision had to be made! Connie, being “the brave soul,” got her coat and put it over her head, just leaving her eyes exposed. She did retrieve the ball, but got stung three times on her eyebrows, which swelled her eye shut.
Time passed and into this valley of Eden, journeyed a sixteen-year-old young man, William Perry Binning, who would spot his future bride as she and her mother loaded hay bales onto the back of an old truck. With a gleam in his eye, Perry recalled thinking: “I’ve got to marry a woman like that!” And so it came to pass, that on one fine day in Pinedale, Wyoming, Perry’s good friends, Fred Boyce and Jim Noble, and their girlfriends, Barbara and Margret Skorcz, and little sister Connie, dropped by Perry’s home to pick him up for a date which set in motion the couple’s destiny. Not so easy, at first, though! Upon seeing young Perry with a lariat rope in hand, swinging at a stationary “bovine,” Connie promptly labeled him a show-off! It took some doing, but in due time, Perry won the heart of the 13-year-old young lady. They found ways to see each other with Perry traveling quite regularly between Pinedale and the Eden Valley, attending dances and local event, until Connie graduated from high school in Farson in May, 1962.
On June 2, 1962, Perry and Connie were happily wed in Pinedale’s Community Church and later were sealed for eternity in the LDS Temple in Logan, Utah on July 16, 1982. The young couple literally “made” their home on the banks of Pine Creek in Shelter Park, putting their talents for building to work constructing their first home, and also happily welcoming the births of their children, Holly and Darin. While the home was under construction, they lived in a sheep camp until the snow flew. Perry said they even had running water! Connie would run to the creek and then run a pail of water back to the house! And they had electricity, too! What more could a young couple in love need? But, wait! They needed windows for their new home, so Connie hired out to her brother-in-law, Jim Noble, during haying time to help buy them.
By now, Perry and Fred Boyce had started a business together-B and B Repair-with Connie helping with the bookwork. As time passed, Perry left the business and he and Connie, together with Holly and Darin started a family business building log garages, log home, and woodcraft such as lamps for people, many of which were given as gifts. This was Connie’s own little family, now, who always worked together and played together-hunting, water-skiing, snow skiing, dancing, living, and loving life, and each other. In the mid-70s’ they started the Binning Sawmill at the Cora Junction and in the early 1980s, together, built the home of their dreams in the beautiful Upper Green River Valley where they lived year-round until the recent years of Connie’s Illness.
In January of 1985 Dorothy came to live with Connie and Perry. They both saw Dorothy through many adventures such as her attending college to going on her mission to Canada. Later in September of 2009 Perry, Connie, Holly, Darin and Dorothy were sealed in the temple as a family. Connie and Perry would always help all of their kids with what ever would help them out. Connie was Dorothy’s first missionary companion for 5 days before she went to the MTC, and they made a great team trying to get all of the family genealogy figured out. Connie was a top supporter and chauffeur for Holly and Darin during each Nordic ski season, traveling throughout Wyoming, Utah, Montana, and then to the Olympic try-outs. Connie served on the board of the Upper Green River Valley cemetery district for over 20 years; she was a campfire leader for Madge Funk for 15 years; and a Cub Scout leader and church primary teacher. She played women’s softball from its Pinedale inception, for 12 years, under the sponsorship of the telephone company. Connie’s team was never beaten, and daughter Holly says that “the old girls really showed the young girls how the game was played!” Holly says that her mom was very strong-willed and competitive. “If you wanted to tease around and try to throw Connie in the lake, you’d better plan to get wet, too!” Connie loved to sew and quilt, when time permitted her to leave her husband’s side in the workshop. She always loved preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, because she knew that lots of family would be there to share her traditional meals of yams and turkey, ham, salads, and home-baked breads and desserts. Mainstay meals the rest of the year were her signature elk steak, mashed potatoes, and veggies. She also kept her family guests at anytime fueled up with the best pancake breakfasts. Connie tried to have a flower garden at their mountain home, but she inevitably had to share it with the chipmunks and squirrels. She and Perry loved animals and had a special knack for befriending the wild ones. They had several pine marten pets and even made friends with a fox and a bear!
Each year at Christmas time, it became a tradition for Connie to start and then add to each of her grandkid’s Hallmark decorations, such as trains for Kaylum, fairies for Madelyn, horses for Shilo and so forth. Each of her children and grandchildren were always treated to special birthday meals and cakes decorated by Connie, if they were available. In most recent years, in early spring-from early March to May’s end, when it became too hot and too many snakes, Perry and Connie would venture to the Apple Valley/, St. George, Utah area to ride four wheelers and rock hound. Many of the family were blessed to be able to join them and share in God’s great creation.
During the past three years, Connie, knowing she was ill, set about helping Holly with her projects. They built a barn, among other projects and began working on Holly’s new house. Because Connie’s expertise was in math, numbers, and house plans, her knowledge was always invaluable.
For nearly 54 years, Connie and Perry Binning have been and always will be workmates and soul mates. Their love is bigger than the purple mountains and wider than the green valleys of their home. And somewhere up there, in those beloved mountains, is Connie’s Glacier, named for her by the local, adventuresome, mountain legend, Finis Mitchell, inspired by Connie’s big hear and spirit, quiet grace and majesty. She loved her life; she loved her family and friends.
Connie will be greatly missed by everyone who knew this lovely woman. Left to hold close Connie’s memories and legacy are husband, Perry; children and grandchildren: daughter Holly (James) Thayne/ Kaylum, Shilo, Kelly (Mitch)/Kati, Jake (Marci)/ Brynley, Jackson; son Darin (Aimee) Binning/Perry, Madelyn (Jennifer), Ashton Rogers, Dominic Vaughn, Amelie and Darin Quin Binning: Chosen daughter-Dorothy (Michael) Roberts/Beth Hendricks; sisters, Margret (James) Noble; Barbara Boyce; Kathy (Kelly) Brown; brothers, Edward (Fern) Skorcz; Leo Skorcz; sister-in-law, Deedee (Binning); and 20 nieces and 20 nephews.
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Connie Binning
1944-2016
Covill Funeral Home
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