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Robert H. Ritter
Former Cody resident Robert Hall Ritter, 47, died suddenly Feb. 17, 2000, at IHC Regional Hospital in Evanston.
Bobby was born Nov. 22, 1951, the son of Clarence Gibson and Eleanor Coleman Ritter of Cody. Bobby grew up in Cody and lived the best part of his life in Wyoming. He said it was the only place on Earth to live and every time he left, he couldn't wait to get back.
He will be missed.
Survivors include his brother Charles Ritter of Evanston, sisters
Marilyn Jones of Edgewood, Colo., and Clariss Ritter of Palm Desert, Calif., a niece and nephew, great-niece and great-nephew and many wonderful friends.
A memorial will be 4-8 p.m. Friday, March 10, in Evanston. For information on the service call Kat, (307) 789-3255, or Chuck, 789-9240.
Eric Plotner
Former Cody resident Eric Plotner, 44, of Wichita, Kan., died Friday, Feb. 25, 2000.
He was a bombardier flight test mechanic.
Survivors include his wife Meg, daughters Kristy and Katie, mother Nicole of Santa Clara, Calif., brother Didier of Columbus, Ohio, sisters Brigitte of Pocatello, Idaho, and Carol Carne of Worland.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Downing and Lahey Mortuary West in Wichita, Kan.
Edward Kocon
Edward Kocon, 78, of Greybull died Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000, at Deaconess Hospital in Billings.
He was born Sept. 5, 1921, in Hamtramck, Mich., to John and Bernice Kocon. His family moved to Chicago where he was raised and educated.
He married
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Jane Kostrzeba in Hamtramck on Jan. 9, 1944. They celebrated their 56th anniversary in January.
Edward farmed at Brown City, Mich., until retiring and moving to Wyoming in 1973. He and Jane made their home in Powell and Wapiti before moving to Greybull in August 1998.
Edward found great joy in the outdoors and in Wyoming mountains. He was an avid hunter and fisherman as well as a devoted family man. He attended Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Greybull.
Survivors include his wife Jane, daughter Marilynn and George Kelly of Greybull, grandson David and Brooke Kelly, stationed with the Air Force in Goldsboro, N.C.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services are planned for a later date.
Roy Eugene Gordon
Roy Eugene Gordon, 81, died Thursday, Feb. 24, 2000, at his home in Cody.
He was born Dec. 30, 1918, in Savanna, Okla., the son of Eugene Alexander and Margaret Bridget Conry Gordon.
He married
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Juanita Morgan on July 28, 1939, in Visalia, Calif.
Mr. Gordon was employed in the aircraft construction industry for most of his life and retired from Rohr Aircraft in Chula Vista, Calif. He and Juanita moved to Wyoming on Aug. 20, 1971, and to Cody on June 6, 1996.
Roy loved people and his family. He enjoyed woodworking in his leisure time. He was a member of New Hope Baptist Church of Cody.
Survivors include his wife Juanita of Cody, son Anthony Gordon of Everett, Wash., sister Mildred Watson of San Diego, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by son Gordon in 1972, sisters Lucille Yocum and Francile Kramer, one grandchild and one great-grandchild.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Interment of cremains will be in the Belfry, Mont., Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to New Hope Baptist Church, 2202 Cougar Ave., or State Line Baptist Church, Belfry, 59008.
Stephka Anderson
Stephka Anna Anderson, 94, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000, at Beehive Home in Cody.
She was born July 27, 1905, in Cloquet, Minn., and lived there until 1998 when she moved to Cody to be near her daughter.
She loved to crochet and spent many hours making afghans for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Stephka is survived by daughter Jean and Jay Kurrle of Cody, sons Duane and Ruth of Burleson, Texas, and Howard of Appleton, Wis., 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and two brothers.
Cremation has taken place and graveside services are pending at Old Hillcrest Cemetery in Cloquet.
Nona Lee Watkins
Nona Lee Watkins, 71, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2000, at her home in Cody.
She was born Sept. 6, 1928, in Judsonia, Ark., the daughter of Frank and Ruby Dumas Huntington.
A Cody resident for 25 years, Nona had worked at Basin Vision Center the past 17 years. She was a member of the Church of Christ and Eagles Auxiliary, which she joined in March 1977.
She was active in the Auxiliary and was always there to do whatever she could for the organization and her friends. She served as president 1979-80, Honorary Mother 1984-85, Honorary State Mother 1989-90, Mrs. Eagle for 1995 and 1999 and was chosen Eagle of the Month in 1999.
Nona was also proud to be a Lions "Call Girl."
She touched many lives and made them better.
Survivors include daughter Linda Perreira of Makawao, Maui, Hawaii, son Tom Watkins of Makawao and Cody, grandchildren Tina Perreira, Linda and Michael Watkins, all of Makawao, great-granddaughter Shania Perreira-Diego, also of Makawao, her best friend Max Ruby of Cody and all the Ruby clan.
Visitation will be 6-7 p.m. Tuesday at Ballard Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ballard's. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery with the Eagles Auxiliary conducting graveside services.
Memorial donations may be made to Spirit Mountain Hospice, 707 Sheridan Ave.
Eva Marie Matheny
Eva Marie Matheny, 86, died Monday, Feb. 21, 2000, at Beehive Home in Cody.
She was born Oct. 12, 1913, in Terry, Mont., to Phil and Eddie Livingston. She spent many of her early years in Sunlight Basin.
On Nov. 19, 1936, she married
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Robert M. Matheny in Elko, Nev. The following year she gave birth to their daughter Lotus Ann Matheny in San Bernadino, Calif. After living on her parents' ranch, the couple moved to Cody where Eva became an operator for AT&T.
She progressed to become chief operator and later received an award of merit from the phone company for an exceptional record of attendance and service, and to recognize the fact that she worked many years without being late or missing work even once.
Eva enjoyed the companionship of her many friends she met at the phone company and loved to go for walks and visit with her neighbors.
She loved traveling and seeing and exploring the world around her, from fishing in Yellowstone Lake, to visiting the Sunlight area and a ranch near Fishtail, Mont., where her mother later lived.
In the summers, they would travel across Wyoming to visit friends and relatives and enjoy the spectacular country.
Before retiring in the 1970s, she moved with Bob to Casper where they lived close to their daughter Lotus Ann.
In 1978 they moved back to Cody and lived here until Bob died in 1998, when she moved to Beehive Home and spent the last year and a half among the love and care of the people there.
Eva had a spark of life that filled a room with warmth and her positive attitude energized all around her. Love, honesty, loyalty, compassion and sensitivity are a few of her many qualities which she imbued in her daughter. She is dearly missed.
She is survived by her grandson Michael Dale Thuleen of Boise, Idaho.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and daughter.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial graveside service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Riverside Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Park County.
Norris I. Sapp
Former Cody resident Norris I. Sapp, 59, died Feb. 7, 2000, in Tucson, Ariz., of complications from a bone marrow transplant.
Mr. Sapp was born Nov. 11, 1940, in Green River, to Robert Tillman and Nellie Sapp. He grew up in Wyoming, then served four years in the Navy and retired from the Merchant Marine after 33 years.Norris and Yvonne Sapp lived in Cody from 1975-1987.
Survivors include his wife Yvonne of Tucson, sons Scott and Phyliss Sapp of Coon Rapids, Mich., Jason and Chris Sapp, both of Tucson, brother Robert Sapp of Colorado, sisters Kathy Burton of Denver and Irene Latinis of Buffalo and grandsons Alex and Austin.
Private memorial services will be in Wyoming at a future date.
Wayne F. Messenger
Longtime Cody resident and banker Wayne F. Messenger, 83, died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000, in Billings due to complications following surgery.
He was born in Rushville, Neb., July 13, 1916, to James Messenger and Rose Skoda. He graduated from Rushville High School in 1934 and attended Barnes Business College in Omaha, Neb., in 1935.
Wayne began his banking career in Nebraska in 1935 and soon after moved to First National Bank in Powell until 1942. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1942-45 during World War II.
On Aug. 2, 1944, he married
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Marjorie Mae Brown in Rushville.
Following World War II, Wayne moved to Cody in 1945 to continue his long and successful career in banking. He was executive vice president of First National Bank and in 1956 opened First State Bank, now Community First State Bank. He retired from banking in 1980. From 1980-84 he was a partner in Western Real Estate.
Mr. Messenger was active in many community and state organizations. He was a Past Commander of the American Legion, Past Commander of the Constantine Commandry #9, Royal Arch Masons, Past High Priest of the Darius Chapter #10, Royal Arch Masons, Inspector General Honorary of the 33rd Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite SJ, USA, Past Grand Master of Grand Lodge Wyoming AF & AM, member Cody Cedar Chapter #14 Order of Eastern Star, Kefar Shrine Club, Kalif Temple AANMS, SJ, USA, and Past Master Shoshone Lodge #21 AF & AM.
He was also a member of the Elks and Eagles, past leader of DeMolay and Boy Scouts, past president of the Wyoming Bankers Association, served on Cody School Board and West Park Hospital Board, was a past president of Cody Club, member of Aircraft Owners' Pilots Association, lifelong member and elder of the Presbyterian Church and member of the Park County Historical Society.
Wayne's passion was flying his plane over the beautiful Cody Country. He was an avid fisherman and devoted husband, father and grandfather. His love of life and people has left a lasting legacy for all who knew and loved him.
He will be remembered for his kind and truly gentle nature.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, son Michael and Corky of Thermopolis, daughter Sally and West Hilzer of Plano, Texas, son John of Cody, daughter Lorna and Jeff Poulsen of Sheridan, grandchildren Kate and Nathan Messenger and Kristin and Dustin Poulsen, and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Glenn and sister Mildred Hickman.
Services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church with graveside services following at Riverside Cemetery.
A pie and ice cream social to celebrate Wayne's life will be held at the church following interment.
Memorials may be sent to the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Big Horn Basin Cancer Center, American Legion Baseball, First Presbyterian Church in Cody or to a charity of choice.
