Obituaries

Jeane Francis Murdock

Funeral services for Jeane Francis Murdock, 87, were held Saturday, Aug. 20, at Plainview Cemetery in Big Piney at 11 a.m. A luncheon was held after the ceremony at the Big Piney Branch Library.

Jeane passed away Wednesday, Aug.17, at St. John's Hospitalin Jackson. Margaret Jeane Francis Murdock was born June 22, 1918, to James and Etta Avery Francis, the youngest of five children. Her father, Jim Francis, was a U.S. marshal and became the first sheriff of Teton County.

Jeane spent her youth on Spring Gulch Road enjoying the ranch life she loved. She graduated from Jackson-Wilson High School in 1935 and went to Utah State, then cosmetology school in Salt Lake City.

Long-time Jackson friends Beulah and May Daniels worked with Jeane at Daniels' Beauty Shop in Jackson Hole. The three fun-loving friends played together and shared many wonderful adventures. On one such adventure, they attended the Chuckwagon Days dance in Big Piney. There Jeane met Joseph Woodrow Murdock and fell in love.

Shortly after her wedding shower at the home of her brother Bill's in-laws, Cliff and Martha Hansen, Jeane and Joe married at the Church of Our Lady of the Tetons and settled at the Murdock ranch in Big Piney where Joe was born.

To this union, eight children were born. David at birth, and Mike, at 43, preceded their mother's passing, along with her parents and four siblings.

Jeane is survived by her husband Joe, her remaining six children and their spouses: Robin and Carol Murdock; Bill Murdock; Solon Murdock; Joe and Nicole Murdock Jr.; Jeannie and Milford Lockwood; and Marty Murdock. Jeane is also survived by seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

All will miss their Jeane, who has inspired them and humored them in good times and bad. She was a stalwart and devoted wife to Joe, riding by his side, haying, cooking more meals than she could count for the ranch, including a meal three days before she died. As the ranch prospered and the sons continued the ranch work, Jeane enjoyed cross-country skiing on the ranch, taking long walks, and reading vociferously. In the past year, Jeane read over 200 books, 40 of those in the last month.

Jeane will be remembered by all who were fortunate enough toknow her as the consummate ranch wife for which Wyoming is famous, expressing a combination of humility, courage, love, and a sharp, playful sense ofhumor. God bless Jeane Francis Murdock.

Any donations in Jeane's name may be made to the Big Piney Branch Library in Big Piney.

June Smith

June Walker Smith was born in Burntfork on June 17, 1925, toVernon John and Iva Eardley Walker, the third of nine children. She passed away on Aug. 18, 2005, at St. John's Living Center in Jackson at the age of 80.

She married George B. Smith Jan. 15, 1945, in Lyman. They had three children: Sandra, Ace and Sonia.

June was active in the LDS Church, serving in the Primary and Relief Society presidencies and as a relief society teacher. She and George even taught dance steps to the young men and women.

June drove the mail truck delivering mail to all of Bridger Valley. She then worked at the drugstore and Gaiety Theater and drove school bus for George Barp in Big Piney. After that she worked for over 25 years at Burnham Clothing.

She is survived by her children Sandra and Bill Milleg, Ace and Jessie Smith and Sonia and Rob Stone, all of Big Piney. She is also survived by grand children Mark Milleg; Marsha and Wayne Barlow; Austin and Janelle Smith; Jamie Stone, all of Big Piney; Cameo and Rodney Miller of Robinson, Ill; Jeremy, Chris and Andrew Stone of Idaho; great-grandchildren London Toney of Robinson; Addison Milleg; Kailey and Logan Barlow; Bridger and Haddy Smith, all of Big Piney; sisters Ethel McQueen of Hoytsville, Utah; Blanche and Dode Eyre of Lyman; brothers Trulon and Lula Mae Walker of Mountain View; Ken and Ann Walker of Kemmerer;Wayne and Janina Walker of Hooper, Utah; and Gilbert and Virginia Walker of Concord, Calif; and sister-in-law Alice Walker of Mountain View.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband George, two brothers, Howard and Alan, and sister-in-law Joanette.

Funeral services were held Monday Aug. 22 at the Big Piney LDS Church at 11 a.m. Following the service, she was laid to rest next to her husband in Plainview Cemetery.