Jeannie Marie Lawrence Eicher

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(Feb. 26, 1935 - April 3, 2014)

Jeannie Marie Lawrence Eicher, 79, died April 3, 2014, at the West Park Long Term Care Center in Cody.

Jeannie was born in Cody on Feb. 26, 1935.

She was the only child born to Clark H. Lawrence and Anna Jeannette Davidson. She was one of the first children born by Caesarean section in Cody.

Jean met her future husband, Charles (Chuck) Eicher in seventh grade. They would became lifelong sweethearts. Jean graduated Cody High School in 1953. When Charles joined the Marine Corps and served in Korea, Jean stayed in Cody and worked for the Rural Electrification Association (REA). Chuck returned from Korea and he and Jean were married April 24, 1955. They lived in Oceanside, Calif., while Chuck finished his commitment to the service. In 1957 they moved back to Cody where they spent the rest of their lives.

Charles began working for Cody Gas Co. and Jean maintained the home. In 1958 their only child, Danny J. Eicher, was born. After school began, Jean worked part time for Economy Furniture, which eventually became Hansen Interiors. Jean was not afraid of hard work. Chuck often welded in his off hours to make ends meet, and Jean would go along and lift 50-pound pipe sections into place for Chuck to weld. Her last formal job was as a bookkeeper for Brasher Construction.

During the late 1960s and early 70s, Jean volunteered her time with the Cody Stampede Parade Committee. She was determined to bring a military band to Cody for the Fourth of July. Cody was considered too small to receive such a band and even work by Wyoming’s congressmen could not achieve it. Jean decided to call the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and to her surprise he accepted the call. The order was given that day, and the band from 29 Palms Marine Base became a reality.

Jean also used her energies in the political arena. Over the years, she fought long and hard to defeat bond issues she felt wasted taxpayers’ money. Whether right or wrong, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Jean spent much of her time cooking for and looking after many older friends. She did their errands and helped with home cleaning. While never a regular churchgoer, much of her life was filled with practicing Christian principles.

When Chuck retired in 1997, they spent their retirement camping in the Shoshone Forest and visiting their son in Denver. In 2002, they took a cruise to Alaska which was the vacation of a lifetime. Chuck died in 2012 after they had been married for 57 years. Jean moved to the Long Term Care Center later that year.

Jean is survived by her son, Danny J. (Jacque) Eicher of Denver and her granddaughter, Laura Jeannette Eicher, also of Denver.

She had a special love for Mary Eicher, Dolores Edwards, Donna Holder and Karreen Strong.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at Ballard Funeral Home. An online memorial is available at www.ballardfh.com.

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