May Fox

Graveside services for May O. Fox, 91, were held at the Fox Family Cemetery South of Rozet, Wyoming on Saturday, March 1st with Garey Herman and Paul Gerrits of Gillette officiating. The family suggests memorial contributions in lieu of flowers be made to a Norma's Community Help Fund to help Norma Ruff in her generous acts of caring community lunches that she provides folks in the Rozet area. Worden Funeral Directors of Newcastle were in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Fox died Sunday, February 24th at Weston County Health Services in Newcastle.

May Oline Martens was born October 17, 1916 on the family homestead of Clara C. Willadson and Henry P. Martens south of Upton, Wyoming. She attended country schools for the first 8 grades, then the Upton High School. Upon graduating, she attended cosmetology school in Rapid City, SD coming back to Upton. She worked at various jobs until she married John P. Fox at Sheridan, Wyoming on July 9, 1940. To this union were born four daughters; Claralee Fox Dillinger, Mayleen Fox Trigg, Yvonne Fox Fleck and Ruth Fox McNally.

May and John started ranching south of Rozet with a handful of cows. Before long John talked her into the idea of purchasing some sheep, and she set to learn to like the "smelly critters"! Looking back, she many a time laughed and said "and then I learned to love them and was proud of my Columbia's!" In the later 1950's she expressed a desire to learn to shear. John said he'd teach her, but she was going to do it right so she didn't get hurt. She did, finally getting good enough to top the 100 head per day mark! She learned other ranching skills with the help of John. He'd always say, "Yeah I can teach you if you want to learn, but you have got to do it right so you don't get hurt." She kept busy, being a full time ranching partner, home schooling their children and homemaker. When John passed way in 1969, May continued to ranch and bred up a very highly respected head of grade Columbia sheep. It was a sad day when she no longer could keep ranching due to the lack of capable help and no interest on the part of a family member in maintaining her quality herd of sheep. A trip to Australia, spent working and living on sheep operations was one of the highlights of her life. The friends she made there were as treasured as the friends she made all through her busy life.

May is survived by her four daughters, eight grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Jack and Lee Martens, and her husband John P. Fox.