Obituaries

Bob Norris

Bob Norris passed away July 12, 2005, after an accident at his home. He was born in Red Oak, Iowa, on Dec. 9, 1918, and moved to Denver shortly thereafter. Bob had a great love of airplanes at an early age and knew that he wanted to be a pilot. His love for flying developed into a passion that lasted his entire life.

He discovered Pinedale in the mid 1930s when he was giving flying lessons in Rock Springs at the age of 17. Bob's parents gave him an airplane and he continued to give flying lessons and airplane rides all over Colorado and Wyoming. He would sell tickets to would-be riders, get them in the airplane and climb in - many of his passengers got out as they thought he was way too young to be a pilot. Bob applied to Continental, United and TAT (to become TWA). TWA was the first to contact him and he started flying for them on Jan. 13, 1941. He was given a presidential deferment during World War II to continue flying for TWA on the CRAF program; he was made a full captain after six months on the job.

Bob flew domestic flights, "milk runs" as they were called, on the DC3s that stopped frequently and from there went on to flying all over the world in every commercial aircraft made. Bob was in the training department for many years and instructed on the first jets in 1958 and continued his career through the Boeing 747s before retiring in 1973.

Bob married Evelyn Rimer, a stewardess for TWA, on July 11, 1945. They started their family in Blue Springs, Mo., with Nancy Lee, Terrie Lynn and Jana Elizabeth. In 1956, the family moved to a farm that they had purchased in 1949.

When Bob was not flying, he played with bulldozers and tractors to transform the 160 acres into his own haven to include a landing strip, several lakes, hangars and barns. He also became a breeder of black Angus and Charolais cattle.

Bob, with some outside help, built or remodeled every home the family lived in. He was also a great stonemason and built many stone walls and enjoyed tinkering in his shops.

In 1965, Bob and Evelyn leased a lot in Sylvan Bay and proceeded to build their first summer home in Pinedale, with help from many family friends from Missouri and Kansas. Great parties and many good times were had by all.

In 1978 Bob started building a home on Pine Creek, and they became full-time residents of Pinedale.

Bob was preceded in death by Evelyn in 1994. He is survived by his daughters: Nancy Lutje and husband Roger of Placitas, N.M.; Terrie Fisher of Scottsdale, Ariz. and Jana Greene and husband Fred of Las Vegas, Nev.; two grandchildren: Alexandria Lee Lutje and Austin Norris Fisher; nephews James McLellan and wife, Charmian, of Boulder and Jerry McLellan and wife, Evelyn, of Montrose, Colo. He is also survived by his beloved cat "JC" Fremont and many friends.

A memorial picnic will be held at his house on Aug. 6 at 5 p.m.

Everette Clinton Johnson

Everette Clinton Johnson, Tuffy to most and Backpack Johnson to some, peacefully passed from this earth on July 11, 2005, at the Sublette Center in Pinedale. He was 94 years young and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Tuffy was born March 10, 1911, in Bondurant to Snellon M. Johnson and Delia M. Vale. He had 16 older brothers and sisters, all of who preceded him in death.

He served in the army, working with horses stateside during World War II.

In the late 1940s, he married Elizabeth Marie Eaton Johnson Dorcheus. They had three children: Everette Wayne Johnson, Shirley Elizabeth Johnson Thomas and Leona Jean Johnson Dorcheus who legally changed her last name. All his children preceded him in death.

In 1965, Elizabeth and Tuffy divorced. He remarried in 1976 to Montana M. Killean Murray Johnson. They had no children together. She also preceded him death.

Tuffy's interests included hunting, fishing, the mountains and helping anyone who might have needed it.

His occupation was mountain man and forester. He was a rancher in Sublette County, served in WWII, ran a dude ranch in California, worked as a miner in both Idaho and Wyoming, and worked for the United States Park Service and U.S. Forest Service until approximately 1983, when he retired.

He is survived by his granddaughter Glenna Beth (Bill) Dorcheus Denison (Shirley's daughter adopted by grandparents Glenn C. and Elizabeth M. Dorcheus); great-granddaughter Katherine Elizabeth Denison of Provo, Utah; grandson Everette Wayne Johnson Jr;. grand-nephew Ed (Dianna) Alexander of Riverton; niece Vivian (Lawrence) Shaul of Pinedale; Frankie Hollie of Pinedale and numerous other nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Sublette Center and Dr. Judy Boyle for their exceptional care and compassion of Tuffy during his stay there.

Graveside services will be held Friday July 22, at 11 a.m. at the Pinedale Cemetery under the direction of Hudson's Funeral Home.