Dr. Jeff Wilson: A community remembers

In what seems to be a revolving door of tragic events, Green River is mourning the loss of Dr. Jeffery Wilson. Dr. Wilson and two of his optometry staff members were involved in a deadly traffic accident west of Green River on Wednesday, February 19 . The accident not only claimed the life of the beloved optometrist but the life of his employee, Katherine Franklin, and left another employee in the hospital for nearly a week.

Dr. Wilson was not only a popular optometrist but a valued member of Sweetwater County. He touched many lives in many different ways, and several community members recently reflected on his life and legacy.

Rock Springs High School Head Basketball Coach Lennon Spence remembers his friend "Jeff" fondly.

"I had the privilege of knowing Jeff through Green River Basketball while coaching there from December 2021 to March 2023," Spence explained. "At first, our connection was through his son, Chris, whom I coached. But over time, it became so much more. Our friendship started with casual post-game discussions-breaking down plays, sharing thoughts on the game, or just talking about life. It became a tradition. After every game, while the players and coaches gathered in the locker room, I knew that when I stepped out, Jeff would be there, waiting to chat. Those conversations were never forced; they were natural, filled with laughter, insight, and a mutual love for the game and the people within it."

Spence also spoke about how Dr. Wilson had an innate ability to thoughtfully engage with the people in his life.

"Jeff had a way of making every conversation meaningful," Spence said. "He had a warm presence, a kind heart, and an ability to see beyond the scoreboard-to the people, the relationships, the moments that truly mattered. We joked often about my terrible eyesight, and I'd laugh about how stubborn I was about getting it checked. Little things like that made our friendship unique-small, simple conversations that, looking back, meant so much."

Longtime Wilson family friend, Social Worker Christine Peterson, reminisced about their time together.

"My family and I moved to Green River nearly 25 years ago, and although I did not grow up here, it is genuinely the place I call home," Peterson said. "This is where we have chosen to raise our children, and this is where they have their fondest memories of growing up and creating meaningful relationships. We had lived in Green River for a handful of years when Jeff and Kim Wilson moved here, when their third child, Chris, was just a baby. We had two young children at the time and the Wilsons were welcomed into our small group of friends. Through the years we formed a close family friendship where we would play games, enjoy barbecues, camping trips, and celebrate birthdays." 

Peterson also spoke about how Dr. Wilson embodied the spirit of service to others through his work within his faith community.

"We were blessed to be in the same LDS ward as the Wilsons, and Jeff was a patient and Christ-like man, so he held service positions with vast amounts of responsibility," Peterson noted. "He served as our bishop for several years and, for a time, I was able to serve alongside him as the Relief Society President, an organization for women.  I saw firsthand how he served with genuine love, patience, and humility."

Peterson concluded by reflecting upon how Dr. Wilson was a friend who became family.

"There are people that come into your life, they show up to your special events and are there for the hard times, and you can't imagine that one day they won't be there," she said. "My final conversation with Jeff was when he came to my house nine days before he tragically passed away. He delivered a gift for my newly married son and said, 'tell them marriage is good.' When you live away from family, your friends become your local family and those relationships are special, and even though this hurts immensely right now, I am grateful for the memories from the happy times and the difficult times and everything in between."

In writing this piece, I find myself looking back at knowing Dr. Wilson with a certain affection. My daughter Isabell and his son Christopher attended school together from kindergarten through graduation last May. They were quick friends and still remain so. We have been long-time patients of Dr. Wilson as well, and without skipping a beat the first thing Dr. Wilson would do was inquire about Isabell and her well-being. The ability to make your patients and your community genuinely feel cared for is not something that just anyone can do. I have seen many people say that Dr. Wilson loved his patients, and I can attest that this was undeniably true.