Obituaries

Les McCormick

Les McCormick passed away May 31, 2007, in Pinedale. He was born Aug. 11,1908, in Choteau, Okla., to James and Hattie Mae McCormick.

Les moved with his family to Loveland, Colo. He began working at a young age for the Warren Livestock Company, south of Cheyenne and continued to work there until he enlisted at the beginning of World War II.

During the war, Les was in five major battles and earned five medals, including the Bronze Star. He was discharged Oct. 10, 1945. After being discharged, he returned to work for the Warren Livestock Company.

Les married Margaret Elisa Sutt on Feb. 2, 1949, in Denver, Colo. A daughter, Leslie Jean was born on Feb. 25, 1952, and a son Mac was born April 5, 1957. The McCormick family moved to a ranch owned by Jon Welborn on Willow Creek north of Cora in 1965.

After retiring, Les spent time enjoying his favorite activities, fishing and cutting firewood. He lived actively and independently in Pinedale during his later years.

He is survived by his son Mac and his wife Delta McCormick of Pinedale, and granddaughter Megan McCormick of San Antonio, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret; daughter, Jean; his parents, James and Hattie; and six brothers and sisters.

No services will be held, per Les’ request.

John E. Morley

John E. Morley, 63, passed away at his home on May 30, 2007, in Big Piney. He was born Aug. 8, 1943, in Oregon City, Ore., to Lloyd and Marjorie Morley. He had two brothers and four sisters. He spent his early childhood in Oregon and was actively involved as a Boy Scout. He later moved to Des Moines, Wash., where he graduated from Mt. Rainier High School in 1961. John studied a year at Central Washington College in Ellensburg and served his country for four years in the U.S. Air Force as an airplane mechanic. One year of service was spent in Vietnam. He married Deborah Beardlslee in Seattle, Wash., on March 6, 1970. Together they have one son Michael.

John worked 10 years at Kenworth Trucking Company as a supervisor on the assembly lines wiring cabs and installing gages and was a member of the Mechanics Union in Seattle. He moved to Star Valley in 1978 and lived in Auburn for 14 years. He had his own auto mechanic business for two years before becoming a permit agent in 1980 for the oil and gas exploration companies. He moved to Big Piney in 1994. The last four years of his life he has been successfully running his own permit business contracting to exploration companies.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping and would go every chance he could. He was an avid reader and a gifted mechanic that could fix anything.

He is survived by his wife Debi; son Michael (Linzy) Morley; four sisters; one brother and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother Richard; sister-in-law Karen Morley and brother-in-law Dave Caldwell.

John was devoted to his family. He was much loved by his family and his wife’s family and had a special relationship with his mother-in-law Margaret Beardslee. He will be missed by many people spread throughout many states.

Following his wishes, cremation has taken place under the direction of Covill Funeral Home. Family has requested in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Sublette County Hospice c/o The Sublette Center, P.O. Box 788, Pinedale, WY 82941.

John W. Gallemore

John W. Gallemore was born on June 13, 1929, in the family home in Pueblo, Colo. He passed away at his home in Big Piney on May 10, 2007. John's father, Earl Ray Gallemore, was born at Crow Junction where his father was homesteading. John's mother, Seeska Alice Sands Gallemore, was born in Lewiston, Mont., and grew up in Delta and Cedar Ridge, Colo. Each of John's parents had two children when they married, six more would follow, for a total of seven boys and three girls in the family. John is survived by two sisters Geri Wilberforce from Texas and Helen Moore from Colorado and a host of nieces and nephews.

John attended elementary school through high school at the Colorado Springs School for the Deaf and Blind. He was away from home during every school year, including his years at Pueblo Junior College while earning an associates degree in music. During the summers he tuned pianos. He received a bachelor of music and teaching degree from Greeley, Colo., in 1951 and was immediately hired to teach music in Big Piney.

John married Suzanne Cooper in May 1953. The first time they met, Suzanne was Big Piney High School principal and teacher of chemistry, physics, algebra and trigonometry as well as Spanish I and II. John taught in the Big Piney schools for over 30 years and was, at one time, also acting principal.

John was an active member of the Masonic Lodge in Big Piney and was also a Shriner. Two weeks before he died, John conducted a ceremony for an entered apprentice Mason, which included a 45-minute recitation. John required no prompting and demonstrated the keenness of his brain. John was a strong Mason. He recognized the value of the fundamental principles of Masonry. He was a true believer in friendship, morality, and brotherly love.

One of John's favorite times each year was the gathering of friends during hunting season in the Guio's cabin that nestles in a grove of quakies next to Spring Creek. John himself did little hunting, but watched over the food and played cribbage and poker with any hunter chased into the cabin by the weather or hunger. John's official duties at camp were to raise and lower the flag and to sing "Danny Boy" – he had a beautiful voice.

John will be remembered as a stalwart, generous friend, totally dedicated through his time and scholarship toward the welfare and progress of the kids in Big Piney.

Memorials may be sent to John's sister Helen Moore, 7 Chicory Ct., Pueblo, CO 81001; to Community Home Care Program, Box 4460, Marbleton, WY 83113; or to the donor's choice.