Clear, 30° F
(April 30, 1949 - Aug. 7, 2014)
K.T. Roes, 65, died at her rural Cody home, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014.
Improving Cody one volunteer hour at a time, K.T. served her community with energy, dedication and pride from the time she arrived in 1972.
The only child of Jo and Mary Jo Barr, K.T. was born on April 30, 1949, in St Louis. She was raised in Rolla, Mo. She continued her education at the University of Missouri - Columbia, and then transferred to the University of Missouri - Rolla, where she met Ted Roes. After college and seeking adventure, K.T. and Ted moved to Colorado together. They were married in 1972 and shortly after decided to continue their life together in Ted’s hometown of Cody.
K.T.’s professional life in Cody started as a librarian at the Park County Library, but it was not long before an interest in journalism landed her a job as a reporter at the Cody Enterprise. After the Enterprise, K.T. worked for Lee Myers on a statewide news and opinion magazine, The Wyoming News, as well as another publication, the Simmental Journal. K.T. then moved on to work at the Powell Tribune for lifelong friend Dave Bonner as the county editor for 10 years.
She continued to contribute her talents to the Tribune for many years, and was especially pleased when her work was titled “Special to the Tribune.” She then spent several years working for the Buffalo Bill Historical Center as the interim PR director.
After the birth of her children, she started a public relations, advertising and publishing agency in Cody. In recent years, her focus has been on publishing with an emphasis on regional history, memoirs, firearms books and novels. For 10 years she published a quarterly magazine for the Colt Collectors Association. Her company, Wordsworth Publishing, has some 30 titles in print.
She had admiration for the tradition of service demonstrated by the dedicated people who preceded her and their tenacity in building the town of Cody. She devoted herself to following in their footsteps.
She served on the Stampede Parade Committee, worked as a volunteer on Cody’s Main Street project, drafted Cody’s first sign ordinance, served on the board as president of the Cody Chamber of Commerce and was a member of Cody’s Economic Development Council, which preceded Forward Cody. She served on the state board of Planned Parenthood, served as executive director of the Western Design Conference and served on Wyoming’s Main Street historic preservation board. In 1987, she started an 11-year stint working as an EMT for the West Park Hospital Ambulance Service. She considered this some of her most rewarding service, as she enjoyed the camaraderie and the way the work pulled people together.
K.T.’s involvement with the Buffalo Bill Center of the West was the largest and most constant element of her volunteer efforts for the community. Her involvement started with an interest in the Patron’s Ball planning committee, which she chaired three times and co-chaired once in 20-plus years of participation. She helped conceive and organize the Frontier Festival, served as one of the editors of The Great Entertainer Cookbook and organized the opening activities for the reinstallation of the Buffalo Bill Museum. She also chaired the Cody High Style Fashion show, and with her friend Lani Snyder, helped with the inception of the downtown runway show as part of the Cody High Style event.
Most recently, K.T. organized the activities connected with the visit of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, a project in which she took great satisfaction and pride. K.T. served on the Buffalo Bill Museum advisory board and in recognition of her tireless efforts was elected to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West Board of Trustees in June.
In 2002, K.T. was reunited with her birth family in Missouri. She immediately established a strong connection with her five siblings, and the long-awaited reunion and ensuing relationships were a great comfort to her.
She traveled extensively in recent years, visiting friends and family, enjoying new experiences and new places and sharing her spirit with the people she loved.
K.T. is survived by her husband, Ted Roes; her son, Ford Roes; her daughter Catherine (Corey) SanFilippo; and Corey’s daughter Taylor SanFilippo; as well as her siblings by birth, Tamira (Matthew) Miller, Lee (Kathy) Beckwith, Carl Beckwith, Kenny Beckwith and Charley Walker. She was preceded in death by her father, Jo Barr, and mother, Mary Jo Barr.
Services will be held at Christ Episcopal Church on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 3 p.m. Immediately after there will be a celebration at the Cody Auditorium.
For those who wish, the family would appreciate donations to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in care of Kelly Jensen, Spirit Mountain Hospice, or the Cody Cupboard.
