Rodney Welch Crosby

Posted

(Aug. 31, 2008)

Rodney Welch Crosby, long-time Cowley rancher, died at the New Horizon’s Care Center in Lovell on Sunday, Aug. 31 from Parkinson’s Disease. He was 91.

Rodney was born to Jesse and Ivy Welch Crosby on July 20, 1917 at the family home in Cowley. He attended schools in Cowley, Salt Lake City and Morgan, Utah, graduating from Cowley High School in 1935. He was a talented basketball player for Cowley as well as the Big Horn Canners and played football for BYU. Rodney was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Rodney married his childhood sweetheart, Ethel Lewis, in 1940, and they later became eternal companions with their marriage solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple. They settled on his acreage south of Cowley to farm and ranch where he diligently worked the land. He and Ethel served as dance instructors for the youth at the Cowley LDS Church and were proficient at ballroom dancing. He was a faithful home teacher and helped others in need. He was proud of his pioneer heritage and taught his children the value of hard work.

Rodney served as executor, and he and Ethel served as co-trustees for the C. A. Lewis Trust for many years. They ran both their operation and the C. A. Lewis operation in Wyoming and Montana for many years. He served on the Lovell Hospital Board of Trustees, as well as the Cowley Drainage District and Sidon Canal District, and was active in organizations including the Wyoming Farm Bureau, Wyoming Livestock Association and the Wyoming Sheep Growers Association.

He will be remembered as a congenial gentleman who loved his family and friends, who was a warm and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend and who was kind and gracious to all and a wonderful example to his children and grandchildren. Although he will be sorely missed, his family rejoices at his relief from suffering.

He is survived by his six children: Sherrill Louise Brow (Stan) of Alpine, Calif., Rodney L. Crosby (Josephine) of Cowley, Carolyn Titmus (Bob) of Las Vegas, Nev., Bobbie Arnson (Dave) of Provo, Utah, Carrie Crosby of Englewood, Colo., and Claudia Sloan (Joe) of Coto De Caza, Calif.; and his brother, Robert Dale Crosby (Maruca) of Florida and Chili. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several nephews and nieces of whom he was very fond.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ethel; grandsons Randy Wagner, David Brow and Brice Legerski; brother, Jesse; and sisters, Jean and Betty. He was also predeceased by his two wives late in his life, Marjorie and Elese.

Funeral services will be Friday, Sept. 5, at 2 p.m. at the Cowley LDS Church, with burial in the Cowley Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Haskell Funeral Home in Lovell is in charge of arrangements.

Comments