Pauline Marchant

Pauline Sedgwick Marchant

Funeral services for lifetime Wyoming resident, Pauline Marchant, age 87, were held March 22 at the First United Methodist Church in Newcastle with Dr. Robert Firebaugh officiating. Burial was in the Newcastle Greenwood Cemetery. Mrs. Marchant died unexpectedly Thursday, March 18 at Weston County Health Services.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Weston Manor, Michael's Senior Citizens' Center, or to the Newcastle First United Methodist Church.

There was a gathering of family and friends on Sunday at Worden Chapel.

Pauline was born August 6, 1911, the third child of Anthony W. and Pauline D. (Thompson) Sedgwick, on the Sedgwick Ranch (which was the Dale Post Office) on the Cheyenne River in Niobrara County, Wyoming. The midwife who attended her birth had to swim horseback the rain-swollen river to reach the ranch.

Pauline was only eight years of age when her mother died May 28, 1920, the result of blood poisoning from stepping on a rusty nail. Pauline attended rural classes through the 10th grade at both the Bobcat School and the Hen Creek School. She stayed with her grandmother, Ida Thompson, in Grover, Colorado, to attend the 11th and 12th grades, graduating from Pawnee High School in 1928. She then attended Nebraska Business College in Grand Island for 2 years, graduating with a clerical/business degree. Following her graduation, Pauline returned to the Sedgwick Ranch to manage the household for her widowed father. On November 20, 1930 she married James A. Marchant and to this union three children were born.

During their 63 year marriage, the couple lived and ranched in various places, including the Jim Marchant homestead on Dogie Creek in Niobrara County; the Sedgwick Ranches in Weston and Niobrara Counties, and the Shostock Ranch on Beaver Creek southwest of Newcastle. They then sold their livestock and bought a home in Newcastle where Pauline lived until 1998, when she became a resident of Weston Manor. Pauline served many years as secretary for the Northwest Ranch Cowboys' Association. She was also employed as a cook at Newcastle High School, in the Weston County Farm Bureau Office for 12 years, and for some 20 years with the Inyan Kara Grazing Association. She quit working to care for her son, who was terminally ill with cancer.

A 4-H leader for more than 20 years, Pauline was dedicated to helping through 4-H in both Niobrara and Weston Counties. In recognition of this devotion, she was accorded the singular honor of representing Wyoming at the National 4-H Leaders' Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Pauline was a member of the First United Methodist Church and served many years on the Bereavement Dinner Committee. She was also counted on to annually prepare the lamb roast for the Maunday Thursday dinner at the church. Pauline was instrumental in founding the Michael's Weston County Senior Citizens' Center, and was always an enthusiastic member. Active in a home economics club, Pauline enjoyed embroidery and beadwork. She was an avid gardener, raising beautiful flowers as well as a bountiful vegetable garden each year. Since moving to Weston Manor, she had also taken up the craft of ceramics. Pauline's favorite pastime, however, was enjoying her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, J. Anthony Marchant; husband Jim Marchant; brother Francis Sedgwick; and sister Ida S. Foley.

She is survived by two daughters, Annette Noeldner and husband Larry of Watertown, S.Dak., and Jeannette Patik and husband John of Newcastle; one brother Leonard T. Sedgwick of Newcastle; five grandchildren, Mike and Ann Marchant of Lander, Wyo., Jacy and Dilly Marchant of Lusk, Wyo., Brenda and Tim Sewell of the JA6 Ranch near Lusk, Wyo., Paula Brown and Joe Gantz of rural Hulett, Wyo., and Michelle Patik of Newcastle; and 6 great-grandchildren, Brandy and Misty Sewell, Ashley, Taylor and Ashton Marchant, Elissa and Jamie Brown and Jodi Gantz. She is also survived by Geraldine Marchant and son Joe Marchant.

Worden Funeral Directors of Newcastle were in charge of arrangements.

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