Popular County Resident Laid to Rest Tuesday

One of the largest crowds ever to attend a funeral here, including over sixty survivors, turned out Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 27, to honor one of our Pioneer residents, Mr. Bill Alexander.

William John Alexander passed away September 24, 1966 at 10:32 a.m. following surgery at Sweetwater Memorial Hospital in Rock Springs. He was born December 12, 1880, in Bonnam, South Dakota, to Eugene and Nancy Butler Alexander. On January 6, 1909 he was married to Ora Elsie Yarger at Daniel, Wyo.

Mr. Alexander settled on the head of New Fork in 1889, having come to the state in a covered wagon with his parents, three brothers and one sister. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Frank, Essie, and Charles, and his sister, Charlotte. His wife also preceded him in death on Sept. 30, 1945. Having homesteaded on the New Fork, he remained there and successfully engaged in ranching activities until the time of his death. In his younger days he was regarded as one of the top riders of the area. He and his wife raised eight children on this ranch and all of the children still reside in the state of Wyoming.

He is survived by all of his children: four sons and four daughters: William Dan Alexander, Cora; Charles F. Alexander, Daniel; Edgar J. Alexander, Rock Springs; Robert E. Alexander, Lander, Mrs. Roy A. (Louise) Troxel, Grass Creek. Mrs. May Jeannette Seaman, Pinedale; Mrs. Charles (Ruth) Bryant, Riverton; and Mrs. Clifton A. (Dorothy) Fear, Jr., Big Piney. He also is survived by 26 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

Respected for his honesty and sincerity, Mr. Alexander served for many years as a member of the school board at Cora. He was well known and liked by all with whom he was associated.

Services were held at the Community Hall with Rev. Calvin Elliott of the Episcopal Church in charge. Mrs. Madge Funk furnished the music and accompanied a mixed quartet, Mrs. Bert Clark, Ted Wiederanders, and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hagenstein, who sang, "In the Garden" and "The Old Rugged Cross." The obituary was read by Paul Hagenstein.

Burial was in the Pinedale Cemetery in the family plot. The pallbearers, all grandsons of Mr. Alexander, were Kip Alexander, Joe Alexander, Ross Alexander, Ed Alexander, Guy Decker Jr., and Chris Alexander.

Out of town relatives and friends here for the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Alexander and Chris of Rock Springs, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bryant and Sharon from Riverton, Mr. and Mrs. Pete Fear Jr., Pammy [sic] and Ren of Big Piney, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Troxel, Grass Creek, Mrs. George Gould of Casper, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Alexander of Lander, Joe Alexander of Burris, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Franch and Mrs. Steve Logan and daughter of Rock Springs, Mrs. Martin Wardell Jr. and Mrs. Lance Hill of Big Piney, Mrs. Susie Yarger and Mrs. Ralph Shurtleff of Daniel, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Routh and son of Rock Springs, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Decker Jr. of LaBarge, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Alexander and Mr. and Mrs. Keith Alexander of Jackson, Lester Mocroft of Greeley, Colo., and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bowker of Long Beach, Calif.