From the pages of
Sublette Examiner
Volume 8, Number 37 - December 4, 2008
brought to you online by Pinedale Online

Obituaries


JUANITA IRENE MASONER
JUANITA IRENE MASONER

Juanita Irene Masoner grew up in St. Joseph, Missouri where she learned and loved to tap dance. Her family moved to Arizona for a brief time. She and her father Howard "Johnny" Masoner then moved on to Pinedale where he ran a motel. Juanita babysat and helped her father with the motel.

Juanita met Warren John Phillips in Pinedale where they went to school and later married. Warren was called to serve in the navy to fight in World War ll in 1944. During this time Juanita moved to Walla Walla Washington. When he returned they moved back to Pinedale for a short time and then up to Jackson where they started their family. Pauline was born in 1947 and Ralph followed a year later 1948 in Jackson.

Warren missed the ranching life and returned to work in Big Piney for the Joe Budd ranch. During this time they had five more children: John in 1952, Mike in 1956, Bobby in 1957 and two girls, Carrie in 1966 and Anita in 1970.

Juanita was a typical ranch wife cooking for ranch hands and the many guests that always seemed to be around. Hunters were also known to be added to this list of weary travelers that would frequent her dinner table, one of which was Slim Pickens the movie actor. Juanita was known to many as a wonderful cook and was willing to feed any hungry soul that came to the house. Her home was filled with young neighborhood kids that watched her make horseradish and all sorts of home baked goodies.

Many a summer was spent camping with her family. She would sit and read or slowly drive down the creek patiently waiting for Warren to catch "the big one". She didn't really like to camp and fish, but she did it for she knew her family loved the outing.

She split her summers and winters between two homes. In the winter they moved to North Piney to spend the hard months and in the summer she packed up her family and moved to the Middle Piney place. She took this in great stride as it is just what you did back then.

Warren and Juanita loved to dance. Warren was known as "Rubber Legs Phillips". He learned how to dance in the Philippines and he wanted Juanita to learn all the "moves" when he came back from the service. They entertained at many a social function in the community, because their dancing was fun to watch.

After working for the Budd ranches 20 years they decided to move to town. Juanita worked at the "Pit and Primer" supper club as a janitor. In 1978 they moved to Dillon, Montana for a short time as Warren followed the rig work. They finally settled in Randolph, Utah.

Warren and Juanita ran the only bar in Randolph called the "Grizzly Bar" until 1985. When that business was sold she went to work for Wyoming Downs Race Track in Evanston, Wyoming. She worked in the jockeys’ quarters. She fed and washed for these young men just as she had all her life for her own family. She loved the work she did, and they all loved her. They called her Mom as she had adopted each and every one of them. After 20 years of dedicated work there she retired and not once but twice! She tried to retire once, and they begged her to come back. So she did, as she had a hard time telling anyone no. The second time she retired she was thrown a huge party and given a plaque and all sorts of gifts she would never forget.

Juanita was known as "one tough ranch lady" by many. In her final times she said, "If I ever get sick, I will be really sick". She was right. She fought breast cancer for a year and succumbed to liver cancer on November 29, 2008.

She will be missed by all of us, for she never let anything get her down. She said there was no need to be sad or down and she didn't tolerate it for herself.

A graveside funeral service was held Tuesday December 2nd at 1:00 p.m. at the Plainview Cemetery in Big Piney. Father Dick Kalber conducted the service.



GERALD D. BINKS
GERALD D. BINKS

Gerald D. Binks was born May 23, 1921 to Albert and Jessie Deutscher. At the age of eight after the death of his father he was adopted by his Uncle Benjamin and Aunt Anita Binks. He was in the U.S. Air Force from 1941 to 1945 and attained the rank of Captain. He flew 18 missions over France and Germany in a B17 named Round Trip Jack. He was the pilot and had a crew of 10. During a mission in a different plane he was shot down over Germany but managed to guide the plane to Holland where he bailed out and was picked up by the underground and stayed with them until he was captured by the Gestapo and taken to Liege, Belgium where he was held as a prisoner of war before being shipped to Stalag Luft 1, a prison camp in North Berlin. He remained there until the end of the war and was liberated by the Russians in 1945.

He made his way to Wyoming after the war and worked in the oil industry until he was 82. He was married to Marilyn Miller who preceded him in death. He later married Mary Lynn Yose, whom he met in 1979.

He is survived by his wife Mary Lynn, his brothers Richard and Merle Binks (a third brother, Wilbur, was shot down over Italy in WWII); his children from his first marriage, Jeralyn, Clifford and James Binks and four grandchildren; step children Lyndon Yose and Kimberly Cope and four grandchildren and two great-grand children.

He was a great man and will truly be missed not only by his family but by his many, many friends. Jerry, we are “glad we got to see you”.

A graveside funeral service will be held Thursday December 4th at 1:30 p.m. at the Plainview Cemetery in Big Piney.



ELLEN CANTLIN COLE
ELLEN CANTLIN COLE

Ellen was born April 15, 1920, to Edgar and Bessie Steele Cantlin and was raised at the Cantlin ranch on the New Fork River west of Pinedale, Wyoming. She attended school in Pinedale and graduated in 1938. A year later, she married Ralph Cole. To their union, four children were born.

She loved living in Wyoming, traveling and snowmobiling. Her passions were rock hunting and genealogy which she loved sharing with her family.

On November 27, 2008, Ellen died at home while surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ralph, sisters Edna Spute and Alma Cantlin, brother Jerry Cantlin and his wife Shorty, daughter-in-law Marion, granddaughter Sheila, and grandson Gordon.

She is survived by her daughter Thelma “Tib” (Bob) Sutherland, sons Tom, Clifford (Louise), Bill (Carla) Cole, 14 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren with one on the way, sister May Bertoncelj, brother-in-law Bud, sisterin-law Norma, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

See The Archives for past articles.


Copyright © 2002-2008 Sublette Examiner
All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means must have permission of the Publisher.
Sublette Examiner, PO Box 1539, Pinedale, WY 82941   Phone 307-367-3203
examiner@wyoming.com