Wayne Lamar Hassell

Wayne Lamar Hassell, 86, passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Smithfield, Utah.

Wayne was born on July 8, 1939, in Bluewater, New Mexico, to Mayner Lee Hassell and Genevieve Tietjen Hassell. He was the second of eight children and grew up in the village of Bluewater, where he developed an early love for mechanics, airplanes, hard work, and the outdoors.

His fascination with flying began in childhood when his father purchased two PT-19 airplanes after World War II. Wayne learned to fly at a young age and later pursued his pilot’s license and had his own airplane.

He attended Fort Lewis Junior College in Durango, Colorado, studying engineering and mathematics before later earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Brigham Young University.

While attending BYU, Wayne met Eva Lue Burrows. They were married on August 28, 1963, in the Idaho Falls Temple. Together they built a large family through adoption and the births of their own children, raising eleven children together and sharing many years of faith, sacrifice, service, and adventure.

As a young man, Wayne served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Finland. Later in life, he and Eva served two missions together in St. Petersburg, Russia and Yekaterinburg, Russia.

After Eva passed away in 2013, Wayne reconnected with and married his childhood friend from Bluewater, Elizabeth Brown Schiess on July 5, 2014. They had many fun adventures together as they traveled, taught cub scouts, served a mission as church camp volunteers, worked in the temple, and were engaged in Senior Citizen Center activities. They did a good job of loving and taking care of each other. Wayne warmly embraced Elizabeth’s children and grandchildren as part of his own family and was deeply loved by them in return.

Wayne spent much of his life in construction, forestry, and earth moving, eventually taking over his father’s company. His work included logging, thinning and replanting forests, building roads and campgrounds, and constructing trails and improvements for parks and historic sites throughout the Southwest, including El Morro, Hovenweep, and the Sandia campgrounds.

He was mechanically gifted and could build, repair, or engineer almost anything. He operated several small businesses over the years, often creating opportunities for his children to work alongside him.

Wayne devoted countless hours to improving the Bluewater community he loved. He served for many years on the Bluewater Water and Sanitation District Board of Directors, including as chairman of the board. He helped oversee construction of the village water distribution system and other important community infrastructure projects. He was the kind of person who quietly stepped in wherever something needed to be built, fixed, or organized.

Wayne loved camping, backpacking, and spending time outdoors with his family and the Boy Scouts. He faithfully served as a Scoutmaster for more than 30 years, earning the silver beaver award, and had a remarkable ability to connect with children. He continued to enjoy backpacking with his children and grandchildren even into his 80s, taking them to familiar places like the Pecos Wilderness. He maintained a daily walking routine until his death.

He was known for his creativity and craftsmanship, especially the elaborate parade floats he designed and built, including working waterfalls, a “family tree” complete with swings, and wooden oxen pulling covered wagons. He also built a handcart and led his family on a trek across the New Mexico desert to help them better understand pioneer experiences.

Wayne loved music, musicals, travel, national parks, and visiting family. “Fiddler on the Roof” was among his favorite musicals.

Those who knew Wayne knew that there was no difference between the person he was publicly and privately. He was always optimistic and treated people with sincerity, patience, humor, and respect, and children especially were drawn to his warmth and playfulness.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Mayner Lee Hassell and Genevieve Tietjen Hassell; his wife, Eva Lue Hassell; his sons Kristian Jon Hassell, Kerry Lamar Hassell, and Michael Wade Hassell; his brother John Tietjen Hassell; and his sisters Jenna Lee Gleed and Margene Olenik.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Schiess Hassell; his children Kimberly Ann Capri, Patrick (Klarke) Ackerman, Kyle Daniel Hassell (Janet), David Wynn Hassell, Tanya Maria Bailey, Trent Wendell Hassell (Ronna), Anna Lee Knotts (James), and Martin Dale Hassell (Mary); daughters-in-law Lenora Dossey and Betty Truman Hassell; his brothers Wendell Hassell, Denny Hassell, and Earl Hassell; his sister Lee Jean Goslar; at 46 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 16, at 12:00 noon at the Smithfield 11th Ward Chapel located at 79 E 200 S Smithfield, UT 84335. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 10:30–11:30 a.m.