Obituaries

James L. Carbley

June 6, 1941 – December 22, 2006

Jim Carbley of Big Piney passed away Dec. 22, 2006 at his home after a brief but fatal illness of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML).

Jim was born June 6, 1941 in Philadelphia, Penn.  He has three surviving children from a previous marriage; Cynthia Anne Branco, Tracy Anne VonStamwitz and James Patrick Carbley all residing in New Jersey. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Angel Branco, Matthew and Holland VonStamwitz also residing in New Jersey, his brother Dennis Carbley of Virginia, his aunt and uncle Jack and Irma Wark of Pennsylvania and his wife, best friend and soul mate Jeannie Robinson and two German Shepherds, Pippin and Max of Big Piney.

Jim’s life began in Big Piney when moving here June of 1984.  He loved Big Piney, the people who reside here, the Wyoming Range and the simple life Big Piney afforded him. He was very proud of his Bridger Teton map where he drew in red lines to denote the hikes he had taken; he has trekked all but four miles of the Wyoming Range Trail.  He loved being a reporter, but to use Jim’s words, “Writer” for the local newspapers because he was honored with covering sports for the kids of Sublette County. He loved Sublette County kids and always said the prettiest girls come from here.  He was just a baker at the Sage Café, he loved to bake and cook because he loved to eat. Jim was a crusader, his passion for healthcare reform was topmost, he ran for a position on the Rural Health Care Board under protest and he lost, he always vowed he could do much more by writing the facts and he did. He was “Mosquito Man” and worked diligently to make sure no life should be taken by West Nile Virus, he wanted all of Sublette County sprayed and took steps to ensure there was money put aside in the event of an outbreak of West Nile.

Jim loved his “hobbit hole” and took great pride in renovating the property.  He was at peace at home surrounded by his beloved German Shepherds and wife.  He tried to find a retirement home but nothing compared to Big Piney, he always complained after a vacation to another destination that the Wyoming Range had no rival, why do we bother going somewhere else for vacation?

In closing the words of JRR Tolkien, “Lord of the Rings, Return of the King:”

“How do you pick up the threads of an old life?

How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand there is no going back?

There are some things that time cannot mend; some hurts that go too deep, that have taken hold, that never heal.”

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, 11 a.m. at the Big Piney Fine Arts building with a reception following at the Congregational Church in Big Piney.  If you wish to send a Memorial for Jim a scholarship fund is being created, please make it out to “Friends of Education, Inc.”, P.O. Box 697, Big Piney, Wyo.  83113.

Ode to the Mountain Man
He could be seen every morning
With his dogs in tow
No matter the weather
Be it 50 above or below
In the place he loved most
As only he could know
He would be out hiking in the sun or the snow
The years have gone by
Very quickly it seems
And he was so happy to be fulfilling his dreams
Of living in the mountains with Jeanne and his pets
Because he knew where he lived it was the very best
He lived a life that I’ve often dreamt about
And he didn’t care if it was snow or draught
In a place that could only be created by God
In those beautiful mountains covered with trees and sod
He’ll hold a special memory in my heart till I die
And I know we’ll be together again someday
In those beautiful mountains in the sky
Now my brother was mountain man who lived in the west
And I really do miss him because he was the best
But I can see him right now hiking those mountains on high
And I know he’ll cut a new trail just for him and I
I’ll join him one day soon
And I know he will be
The wonderful brother
That’s always loved me
I love you and miss you Jim!!
Your brother Dennis

Barbara Chapman Budd

Barbara Chapman Budd was born in Athens, Ohio on May 25, 1928 to Helen and Hall Chapman. She grew up in Coolville Ohio where her father owned Chapman Brothers’s Grocery Store. She had one younger brother, Ronald Chapman. Barbara completed her college degree in business at the University of Ohio. After she graduated she traveled on the Union Pacific to Kemmerer, where she caught a ride to Big Piney to visit one of her college friends. Her friend had married a geologist who ended up in Big Piney for work.

Some of the first things that struck Barbara when she got to Wyoming were the mountains, the wide-open spaces. She especially liked the dirt streets and hitching rails of Big Piney. She always said it rained too much in Ohio and she loved being out where the skies were blue and clear.

She married Dan S. Budd on Sept. 25, 1955. She worked hard as a ranch wife, cooking for hay crews, helping with ranch work and raising her daughters, Karen, Janet and Martha. Her days were filled with sewing clothes for her girls, making her famous home-made rolls, taking care of her house and being a friend to everyone. Even though she wasn’t raised on a ranch, she learned to move cow, check heifers in calving season, and drive the rake during haying season.

Barbara liked wading in the creek with her shoes on, collecting sunsets because she didn’t have to dust them, playing bridge and writing for the artist guild. She loved the view of the mountains from her living room picture window, wild determination, and grace. She had an infectious smile that covered her face and could light up a room. Even though she didn’t consider herself funny, she brought laughter to her friends and her family. She loved Jesus and the peace that knowing him brought. Barbara was kind to everyone and was always there with a meal for someone in need. She never knew a stranger and loved to invite people to her home for a meal.

To her six grandkids, she was known as “Grammy,” a name she picked for herself when her first grandchild was born. She loved watching them grow and loved each one for their uniqueness and spirit. We will always have a part of her in our hearts.

She was preceded in death by her parents Hall and Sarah Helen Chapman. She is survived by husband Dan S. Budd, daughter Karen Budd-Falen, (Franklin Falen), daughter Janet Beiermann, (Bob Beiermann), daughter Martha Braaten, (Gary Braaten), one brother Ronald Chapman and grandchildren, Issac and Sarah Falen, Clint and Jenny Beiermann, Katelyn and Elly Braaten. Memorial may be sent to the Shriners Hospital for Children 2900 Rocky Pointe Dr. Tampa Fl. 33607 and Samaritans Purse P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or a charity of their choice.

Paul A. Raftery

Paul A. Raftery, 41 of Helena, Montana, passed away Dec. 8, 2006.

He was born March 10, 1965, in Berkley, California to Robert P. and Mary Kay (Miller) Raftery.

Paul attended grade school through high school in San Jose, California, where he obtained the honor of Eagle Scout. Paul graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in fish and wildlife biology.

Paul worked for the U.S. Park Service in Arizona and later served with the U.S. Park Police in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. He also worked as a deputy sheriff, detective and chief detective with the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office in Sublette County.

Paul entered law school at the UM of Missoula and graduated with honors in the spring of 2006. He passed the Montana state bar in July of 2006 and began working for the Supreme Court of Montana with Justice John Warner.

Paul is survived by his parents, Bob and Mary Kay Raftery of San Jose, brothers, Matthew Raftery of Reno, Nev. and John (Lori) Raftery of Lincoln, Calif.; sisters Anne Raftery of San Jose; Amy (Michael) Holzr of San Jose and his special companion, his beloved dog, Thelma.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007 at Our Lady of the Peace Catholic Church in Pinedale.

Family prefers memorials to be sent in Paul’s name to the Lewis and Clark Humane Society, P.O. Box 4455, Helena, Mont. 59604.