Russell Gerald (Bud) Dayton was born on Nov. 15, 1927, to Russell Oliver Dayton and Flora Cozzens Dayton at his home in Cokeville. He returned home on Nov. 27, 2018.
Bud met and married Venice Dayton. They had three children before they separated. Bud later met and married Verdi Walton, adding her daughter Hollie to their family. They blended their families and together had two more children. Bud and Verdi were sealed in the Logan Temple.
Bud was an avid sportsman and loved to support the youth in every sport available. If there was not a game to watch, he would spend his time watching their practices. He loved his hunting trips with all his hunting camp buddies. But most of all, he loved his family and was their biggest supporter.
Once his daughters were too old to participate in events, he looked forward to the day he would have grandchildren to encourage and
support. Bud was loved by all those who knew him. He worked hard all his life and knew how to have fun. He worked for the Wyoming Highway Department for 34 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his oldest daughter Eileen Larson, his brother, Don Reed Dayton, his sister-in-law Margaret Ann Dayton and brother Danny Dayton and his hunting camp buddies. He is survived by his wife Verdi Walton Dayton, his daughters Rebecca (Johnny) Petersen, Jill (Neal) Black, Hollie (Jim) Watterson, Sivi (Wayne) Harmon, Teri (Shane) Viehweg and his 21 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cokeville, Wyoming. There will be a viewing from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m.
