Obituaries

Marilyn June McNinch

Marilyn June McNinch passed away peacefully at her home on Aug. 14, 2005, surrounded by her family.

She was born March 23, 1925, to Fred and Dorothy Otto in Fort Thomas, Ken. She belonged to a large family that included five brothers and two sisters.

Marilyn attended business college in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was also employed by a major insurance company. She spent countless hours as a volunteer for the Red Cross, comforting and providing emotional support to veterans returning from World WarII.

Marilyn met her future husband, Keith E. McNinch, on a blind date, had a fabulous courtship and they married three years later, on Oct.27, 1951, in Fort Thomas. She eventually moved with Keith to Dayton, Ohio, where they began a family.

Marilyn had many interests, including being an active memberof a bridge club, serving as president of a women's auxiliary for the Society of Professional Engineers in Dayton, and she enjoyed her many friends. In 1975 she moved with Keith to Big Piney and became very involved in the community. She enjoyed long-time employment with Dr. William Close at the Marbleton-Big Piney Clinic, enjoyed working with Dr. Bob Beiermann at his veterinarian clinic and was always devoted to helping others.

She also served as secretary and vice president of the Green River Valley Cowbelles and eventually became a lifetime member.

Marilyn loved Big Piney and all the wonderful people who live there. She and Keith enjoyed attending various community events and dancing the night away. She loved her family and was an exceptional wife and mother.

Survivors include her four children, Randy and Shawna McNinch and their children Jack, Kelly, Kaycee and Hanna of Big Piney; Roger McNinch of Casper; Sally and Kevin Conroy of Fort Collins, Colo.; and Keith Jr.and Debbie McNinch of Broken Arrow, Okla.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, thre ebrothers, two sisters and her parents.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Aug. 19, at 11 a.m. at the Big Piney Fine Arts Center. Interment will follow the service in the Plainview Cemetery.

M. Eugene Hoffman

M. Eugene Hoffman, 74, of Jackson died Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005, in a single-vehicle accident near Soda Springs, Idaho.

Gene was born May 30, 1931, in Jackson to Melvin and FernWilson Hoffman in his grandparents'ranch house. Gene graduated from Jackson Hole High School in 1949. He first married Marcia Wogensen, with whom he had two children. After they divorced, he married Nancy Maxwell Ely on Jan.4, 1986, in Jackson.

Gene lived most of his life in and around Jackson. He graduated from Utah State University then worked as a forest ranger in Utah, Nevada and Wyoming. In 1969 he returned to Jackson, where he began a real estate career with his brother, that career ended in 2005. He helped to shape land policy on local, state and national levels.

Gene loved horses. He enjoyed participating in rodeos, where he rode both bareback horses and bulls. Later in life he enjoyed team roping. He even tried English riding and jumping for awhile.

He was an avid naturalist and spent much of his life outdoors.

He is survived by his wife Nancy; his children Joel Hoffman and Marilyn Hoffman-Taylor of Jackson; a brother, Darrel Hoffman of Jackson and three grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 11a.m. at the rodeo grounds in Jackson. Cremation has taken place under the direction of the Valley Mortuary in Jackson.

Donations in Gene's memory can be made to the Jackson Hole High School Rodeo Club through the Bank of Jackson Hole.