Search Archived Marriage Records
Fred Brass
Dr. Fred Brass, 81, died May 20, 2002, at Scripps Oceanview Convalescent Hospital in Encinitas, Calif.
He succumbed to a variety of complications that were mostly the result of his having loved life and living it to the fullest.z
Fred was a summer resident of Cody for many years.
He was born Dec. 5, 1920, in Calexico, Calif., ("a half-mile from Mexico," as he always said) because his mother
was visiting her sister in the Imperial Valley for a family funeral. His father Charles G. Brass and mother Dorothy "Dolly" Hindle Brass had lived in Del Mar, Calif., since 1914.
The family moved about the county but mostly lived in Encinitas. While they could not boast of having a great deal of money, their life was rich in love, music and learning.
His father was a skilled carpenter, cabinetmaker and homebuilder as well as a talented musician who passed on his skills to his children. Fred's mother, an educated woman who graduated from Stanford, was an English and math teacher.
He attended Oceanside High School and was in the first graduating class (1937) of San Dieguito High School.
Graduating at age 16, he went on to San Diego State, then UC-Berkeley for his undergraduate studies before attending USC Medical School.
He applied his construction skills working to build "Liberty Ships" in Richmond, Calif., during the war to work his way through college and medical school. His mother sent checks that would bounce and he often told of eating so many carrots, which were cheap, he turned orange. His mother's saying, "Find a path or make one" became his life's motto.
He returned to his home in north San Diego County to start a medical practice in Solana Beach in 1948. He had a deep sense of compassion and an ability to empathize with people from all walks of life.
He delivered approximately 5,778 babies, many in his office.
His fame as a doctor and the attraction of Hollywood stars to Del Mar and its horse racetrack earned him the title "Doctor of the Stars." He took care of many actors including Victor Mature, Robert Young, Jimmy Durante and Desi Arnaz.
He was credited with saving Arnaz's life when the actor became deathly ill while fishing in Baja. Fred flew in a small plane with a Baja bush pilot to treat the actor.
Fred never forgot his roots nor did he lose his love for the people who called him their doctor.
His love of people was only exceeded by his zeal for living life to the fullest. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman. He often would launch a boat or set duck decoys to get in a little fishing or hunting before work.
If he wasn't practicing medicine, hunting or fishing, you could usually find him building something at his home "Casa Brass" on top of the hill in Solana Beach, or working to improve the many properties he owned in town.
Fred was well known for his passion for driving fast and having flashy cars, but the women of his life were just as sporty and more beautiful.
His son, Douglas Brass of Willits, Calif., was born to his first wife Amy. But the real love of his life came along later when he married
" target="_blank">married
Barbara in 1961. She came with daughters Katie Brass of Cody and Louise Abbott of Solana Beach and a son Paul Hoffman of Washington, D.C. Fred took them in and reared them as his own.
Dr. Brass helped initiate dozens of projects that make the North County area of San Diego what it is today. He was instrumental in bringing paramedics to North County. He worked tirelessly to move I-5 further inland instead of on top of Highway 101 as originally planned.
He lived a long and fruitful life in part because of the hundreds who prayed for him daily. Now he has gone to a far better place - to be in Heaven with his soul mate Barbara.
In addition to his children and grandchildren, his younger siblings survive him, including James Brass of San Marcos, Calif., and Elizabeth Dewar Brass Johnson of Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Peters in Del Mar. The family suggests friends donate to a charity of choice in his memory.
Opal Sulcer
Opal Sulcer, 91, died May 21, 2002, in Exempla Lutheran Hospice Care Center in Wheat Ridge, Colo.
She had moved from the West Park Long Term Care Center to Life Care Center of Westminster, Colo., on May 3.
Opal came to Cody in December 1942 when she was hired to teach mathematics at Cody High School. She taught math in the Cody school system for 33 years, retiring in 1975.
Survivors include son James (Nancy) Sulcer, granddaughter Sandra (Taggert) Morrow, all of Arvada, Colo., grandson Geoff (Paula) Sulcer and great-grandson Nathan Hayden Sulcer, all of Stow, Ohio, numerous nieces, nephews and their families.
Opal was preceded in death by her parents, all nine of her siblings and her husband James.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. May 29 at Cody Presbyterian Church. A light luncheon will be served at the church following the service.
Melvin Kirk 'Jack' Donathan
Jack Donathan, 79, died May 19, 2002, at his home in Sheridan.
He was born Melvin Kirk Donathan on May 25, 1922, at Hot Sulphur Springs, Colo., one of 12 children of Kirk and Ida Mae Barker Donathan.
As a youngster, he exhibited extraordinary capabilities at breaking horses. He "hit the grub line" shortly after his 13th birthday, then added bull riding in rodeos. He did trick riding with Leonard Stroud, particularly Roman riding where his matched white horses jumped a small red car.
Among his bull riding accomplishments was riding Joe Lewis, the "Bull Who Had Never Been Rode" at Madison Square Garden. His career was shortened after a bull caught him in the chest and threw him, causing continued trauma when bull riding.
Donathan married
" target="_blank">married
Betty Lou Philpot on June 19, 1943, in Green River three days after he was inducted into the Marine Corps. He participated in 14 first, second and third wave landings on Pacific Islands from June 1944-December 1945. His wife received a "killed in action" telegram while she was in labor for the birth of their oldest daughter, Betty Ann. He never remembered how he got back to his outfit, only that his commanding officer and fellow Marines were quite shocked to see him. Donathan was one of the thousands of troops on ships ready to invade Japan when the atom bombs were dropped instead. He was at Nagasaki for reconnaissance after it was bombed.
He returned to Colorado and then moved to Wyoming. Three more children were born to the family, daughters Sharon and Mikey and son Kelly. They lived in several locations in Wyoming with Riverton being home for the years the children were growing up.
Donathan continued to break horses for recreation, getting his stock from mustangs he would catch. He spent many years as a truck driver but also worked in many other professions, including trona mines where he became a "powder man" and as a ditch rider for nine years. He ranched until his health declined.
In addition to being a horse whisperer, he was an expert fly fisherman, accomplished hunter, guide and camp cook, trapper and maker of hundreds of leather articles like saddle bags, chaps, vests, motorcycle bags and scabbards.
Donathan's greatest love was for his savior and he never tired of sharing that love with anyone who would listen. He was a devoted husband, proud father and conscientious citizen.
He is survived by daughters Betty Ann Thain of Los Angeles, Sharon (Ken) Watts of Riverton, Mikey (Mike) Stubbs of Athens, Tenn., and son Kelly of Thermopolis, four grandsons, two granddaughters, five great-grandchildren, brother Pat of Sutton, Alaska, several nieces and nephews, many dear friends and Phyllis of the home in Sheridan.
He was preceded in death by his wife of more than 42 years, Betty, who died in 1985, his second wife Katherine who died in 2000, his parents and 10 siblings.
Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at the Meeteetse Cemetery with Ballard Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Stanley Curran
Stanley Curran, 36, of Cozad, Neb., died May 17, 2002, in a Kearney hospital.
He was born May 15, 1966, at Lancaster, Calif., to Stanley and Jacquelyn Von Eschen Curran. He attended school in California, later moving to Cody. On Oct. 15, 1992, he married
" target="_blank">married
Lafaye Ivey in Fort Worth, Texas. They moved to Cozad in 1999. During his lifetime he enjoyed attending flea markets.
He is survived by his wife Lafaye, daughters Ashley and Nikki Curran, both at home, his mother Jacquie and step-father Robert Capone of Meeteetse, brother Scott Sumner of Casper, and sisters Brenda Link of Glenrock and Angel Helm of Casper.
Memorial services were May 21.
Violet 'Vi' M. McFarland
Meeteetse resident Violet "Vi" M. McFarland, 73, died Monday, May 20, 2002, from complications of a stroke.
Vi was born to Ed and Katie Larson on Sept. 23, 1928, at the family homestead on Rawhide Creek near Meeteetse. She graduated from Meeteetse High School in 1947, and worked for the telephone company in Meeteetse where she met Joe McFarland, her husband of 54 years.
After their marriage Sept. 24, 1948, she moved with Joe to Dillon, Mont., where Joe cooked for his brother-in-law, Skeets Murray. They later lived in Butte and Livingston, Mont., before moving to Powell.
They returned to Meeteetse in 1957 where she worked on the ranch and was camp cook for her father's outfitting business. For several years she also worked for the Meeteetse School District as a cafeteria cook and bus driver.
After her father's death, she cared for her mother and managed the family ranch. She loved gardening, grew tomatoes from seed and was a test gardener for Jackson Perkins roses. An excellent cook, she designed and baked cakes for weddings and birthdays throughout the region.
She was an avid fan of professional bull riding and loved ranch work and her horses. She had a passion for birds and enjoyed identifying them at her bird feeders.
Vi is survived by her husband Joe McFarland of Meeteetse, mother Katie Larson of Meeteetse, children Brenda (Keith) Eden of Powell, Mick McFarland of Meeteetse and Cindy (Ray) Gullion of Worland, grandchildren Fred and Joyce Eden, Darin (Stacey) McFarland and Mikki Jo McFarland, Jerry, James and Heidi Gullion, great-grandson Kenneth Eden, and nieces and nephews Joyce (Tom), Gene and Connie LeFevre.
She was preceded in death by her father, sister Pauline McCarty and nephew Eddie McCarty.
Visitation was at Ballard Funeral Home on Friday afternoon and funeral services will be Saturday, May 25, at 2 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Meeteetse. Graveside services will follow at Meeteetse Cemetery.
Joan G. Cummings Ledo
Joan G. Cummings Ledo, 91, died May 22, 2002, at the home she shared with her daughter Shirley and son Jimmy.
She was born April 15, 1911, on her parents' Sage Creek homestead in the Pryor Mountains.
As the 10th of 11 children born to Clarence and Clara Abbott Cummings, Joan was the last surviving member of her family of origin and of a generation reflecting a Western spirit and lifestyle.
Joan was raised in the Pryor Mountains and went to school in Bridger and Fromberg, Mont. In her younger years, Joan loved being with her family, horses and in the outdoors. She enjoyed watching golf and baseball on television. She loved life and will be missed by all.
In 1933 Joan married
" target="_blank">married
Leonard Ledo in Hardin, Mont. They ranched for many years in Montana and Wyoming until Leonard became ill. Joan worked as a cook and waitress for many years. She retired while living in Absarokee and then moved to Cody 16 years ago.
Survivors include daughter and son Shirley Ledo and Jimmy Ledo of Frannie, granddaughter Debbie Ledo of Bozeman, great-grandson Levi (Tanya) Cook, great-great granddaughter Sonya Rose, great-grandsons J.C. and Travis Anderl, all of Wisconsin, grandson Norman (Shannon) Nading and children Ashley and Blake of Billings, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings and in-laws Blanche (Emery) Lufkin, Myrtle (A.L.) Bailey, Mabel (Clarence) Wood, infant George Cummings, Elsworth Cummings, Perrin (Penn) Cummings, Clarence (Myrtle) Cummings, Willard Cummings, Pearl (Jay) Kelsey and Everett Cummings.
Family members extend a special thank you to the staff of Valley Home Care of Powell who took such wonderful care of Joan.
Cremation has taken place and memorial services will be held later.
David Gamroth
David Gamroth, 66, died May 21, 2002, at West Park Hospital.
Dave was born April 8, 1936, in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., the son of Henry and Martha M. Kulig Gamroth. He grew up in Wisconsin Rapids and attended schools there. He attended college in Stevens Point, Wis., for two years before joining the Air Force.
Following his discharge, he returned to college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he received an engineering degree. Dave married
" target="_blank">married
Michaelene Ann Raich on Dec. 17, 1960, in Milwaukee.
In February 1964 the family moved to Cody where he was employed as a civil engineer with the state highway department. He transferred to Rawlins until 1972 when he was offered a position in Cody. He retired in 1995.
Dave like to travel. An aviation fanatic, he also enjoyed building model airplanes. He was always cutting and splitting wood. Dave was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Eagles and Elks lodges of Cody.
He is survived by his wife Michaelene of Cody, children Phil (Stepenia) Gamroth of Casper, Teresa (Bill) Kramp, of Cody and Joe (Tracy) Gamroth of Carson City, Nev., brothers John Gamroth of Wisconsin Rapids, Pete Gamroth of Livingston, Mont., and Mike Gamroth of Denver, sister Anna Millenbah of Wisconsin Rapids, and grandchildren Jason, Anthony, Sarah, Kevin, Destiny, Victoria and Timothy.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 29, at Ballard Funeral Home.
Memorial donations in Dave's memory may be made to the Cancer Treatment Center, 1025 9th St., Cody.
