Buddy Charles Champagne Jr.

Posted

(Feb. 22, 2004)

Funeral services were held Feb. 27 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center in Cody for Buddy Charles Champagne Jr., 52, who died Feb. 22 at North Big Horn Hospital in Lovell from complications of Multiple Sclerosis and diabetes.

He was born Nov. 6, 1951, in Powell. He attended schools in Cody, Frannie, Columbus, Mont., Powell and Laramie. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy July 7, 1972, and served as a machinist on the USS Bryce Canyon and later on the USS Kitty Hawk. He took great pride in the work he performed and what he learned. After his discharge from the navy in March of 1980, he attended Northwest College in Powell and received an A.S. degree before going on to the University of Wyoming to major in education.

He joined the Wyoming National Guard in September of 1980 and retired as a Gunnery Sergeant on Jan. 20, 1994. His last employment was with Fremont Motors in Cody. I

In February of 2001, he became disabled. He spent three months at the Veterans Hospital in Sheridan and then transferred to New Horizons Care Center where he resided until his death.

Survivors include his mother, Elizabeth (Betty) Todd and stepfather, Terry Todd, of Cody; four sisters, Sue Orr (Jack) of Winnemucca, Nev., Carma Johannesen (Fred) of Coal Hill, Ark., Jeri Shuler (Carl) of Fromberg, Mont., and Lee Nell Owen of Cody; two step-sisters, Tammy Ellis (David)and Tara Raymond (Scott), both of Cody; one foster sister, Donna Hume (Tom) of Cody; one step-brother, Troy Todd of Cody; 14 nephews and one niece.

He was preceded in death by his father; his grandparents; and four maternal uncles. Burial was in the Lovell Cemetery.

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