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Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal delivers remarks about Bill Paddleford at his memorial service Wednesday at the Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole. Hundreds of the late Teton County commisioner's friends and family gathered for the service. PRICE CHAMBERS / JACKSON HOLE DAILY

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About 500 people, including Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal and U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, paid tribute to Teton County Commissioner Bill Paddleford on Wednesday, remembering him as a leader with a sense of humor and conviction.

Paddleford died July 7 after battling cancer. Despite obvious pain, he performed his duties as commissioner; the night he died he went to sleep expecting to attend yet another meeting the next morning.

Freudenthal, a Democrat, said the Republican’s nature overwhelmed politics.

“Most of all, I just enjoyed Bill,” the governor said. “When he bounded across the room, you were not going to escape the bear hug of his personality.”

Paddleford played politics straight, Freudenthal said.

“What you saw is what you got,” he said. “What he said is what he meant.”

Known as “Willie” to his pre-politics friends from Lander and Laramie, Paddleford loved “chicken” or sage grouse camp, fishing camp and elk camp, said buddy Jan Poulson.

“We’ll remember the pure joy of sitting around the campfire listening to the stories of Willie,” she said.

Paddleford broke stereotypes, County Administrator Jan Friedlund suggested, calling him “our beloved renaissance man in Carhartts” and “a well-read redneck.”

Jackson engineer Bob Norton, who grew up with Paddleford, linked the Fremont and Teton county communities with tales of Willie’s youth. Paddleford had a great memory and a desire to do excellent work, and he pushed the tolerance of the “adopted” mothers who took him under their wings after his mother died when he was 8.

He could make a 42-egg omelette on a Wilson grill, Norton said. It was an extended stint in Alaska, where he won a contract to install windows in a prison, that brought his leadership qualities to the fore, he said.

Commission Chairman Andy Schwartz said the “crusty Fremont County Republican and transplanted East Coast Democrat” had a lot to fight about. Yet he found “there was room for us to work together.”

Jackson Mayor Mark Barron said he and Paddleford resolved long-standing roadblocks separating the two governments within 30 minutes at a meeting at Paddleford’s home. Paddleford exemplified “servant leadership,” the mayor said.

Schwartz could interpret the “long sighs and harrumphs” Paddleford would make at tedious meetings, Barron said.

A table at the front of the Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole held Paddleford’s fire commissioner helmet, reading glasses, hunting pictures, commendations and other memorabilia, including his office phone. His speed dial directory gave a view of how he framed his job.

1: Emergency (pretend), 2: Emergency (real), 3: Army Corps of Engineers, 4: Bureau of Reclamation, 5: Fremont County translation, 6: Bartlett’s Quotations, 7: The boss, 8: The other boss, 9: Teton County historian, 10: Elks Club.

Paddleford believed you needed sweat equity to get into heaven, the Rev. Paul Hayden said. He debated the belief that it was God’s grace, not good behavior, that brings salvation.

Pastor Richard Steeg had the same debate, he said. He won Paddleford over, almost.

“Is it still OK if I have questions?” Steeg said Paddleford asked at one point. “He had struggles with the God of grace,” Steeg said.

The commissioner made his peace through his wife, Lisa, Hayden said. Between them, “when Bill passed, there was nothing left unsaid.”