Alice Wolfe

Alice Wolfe, Resident of this Area Over 60 years, Dies Sunday

Mrs. Alice Wolfe, 82, resident of this community for the past 68 years, died at her home in Jay Em Sunday morning from a heart attack.

Mrs. Robert Wolfe found her mother-in-law when she went to her near-by home on her daily morning visit. Alice Wolfe had been feeling unusually well the previous day and Sunday had gotten up and dressed, unlocked her doors and put water on the stove to heat for coffee. She was found lying on the floor by her bed, death evidently having come almost instantly.

Alice Chalfant Wolfe was born May 22, 1869 at Union, Nebr., the daughter of John and Lena Chalfant. She received her elementary education at Union and when ready for high school went to the larger town of Plattsmouth, Nebr.

She was married at the home of her parents on Nov. 4, 1891 to Wesley T. Wolfe of Lusk, who had taken up a homestead on land north of the Rawhide Buttes, so she came as a bride to the Wyoming prairies.

About 1900 they purchased the Amos Lowery ranch on the Rawhide Creek and it has been known since that time as the Nine Bar Ranch.

FRIEND OF AUTHOR
The hospitality of both Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe extended not only to their friends and neighbors but to far away places. It was at the Nine Bar that William L. Lighton gathered material for the Billy Fortune stories that ran in the Saturday Evening Post more than 30 years ago. Mr. Lighton is also the author of a book he wrote while at the ranch, entitled "When Cupid Came to the Nine Bar."

Among the noted guests who came to the ranch was Robert F. Gilder of the Omaha Herald, who was also a well-known artist and many of his paintings are scenes of the ranch and surrounding country.

Mrs. Wolfe was a woman of sterling character with a high sense of loyalty to her friends and her generous deeds were countless. She was indeed a fine type of American womanhood.

Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe, John Wesley of Lusk and Robert E. of Jay Em. During the years that the boys were in school Mrs. Wolfe maintained a home in Lusk during the winter months.

CHARTER MEMBER O.E.S.
She was a charter member of Niobrara Chapter No. 26, Order of the Eastern Star and was its second worthy matron after its organization. She had been awarded an honorary life membership in the Order.

Mr. Wolfe died at the ranch home April 14, 1926 and in Sept. of the same year Mrs. Wolfe fractured a hip in a fall. She never fully recovered from the injury and uncomplainingly suffered from it the remainder of her life.

One brother, Hugh Chalfant, preceded her in death.

A couple of years ago Mrs. Wolfe moved to Jay Em to make her home near her son, Robert and his wife and it was there that she passed quietly away from a heart attack on Sunday morning, Sept. 16. It was the way she would have wished it to be.

Survivors beside her sons are two sisters, Mrs. Nell Johnston and Mrs.Harriet Nichols of Sioux Falls, So. Dak., and two brothers, Dan Chalfant of Torrington, Wyo., and Jack Chalfant of Burlington, Colo. Two grandchildren, Edward Wolfe of China Lake, Calif., and Miss Elizabeth Wolfe, a student at the Wyoming University at Laramie and one great granddaughter, Linda Louise Wolfe of China Lake, Calif., besides many nieces, nephews and cousins.

SERVICES WEDNESDAY
Funeral services were conducted from the Peet Chapel on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30. The Eastern Star service was given by members of Niobrara Chapter No. 26 with Mildred Windom, worthy matron; Harold Gautschi, worthy patron; Lillian Christian, associate matron; Georgia Cline, chaplain; Marjorie Butler, Adah; Pat Murphy, Ruth; Grace Wilson, Esther: Elizabeth Percival, Martha; and Ella Rogers, Electa.

Rev. Jacob Nein, pastor of the Congregational Church assisted at the service and was in charge of the graveside service.

The active casket bearers were Ross Starner, Lloyd Hargraves, Noel Hargraves, Don C. Taylor, Willard Robinett, A. F. DeCastro, Walt Tyrell and George Kuns. Honorary bearers were Edward M. Arnold, Lake Harris, Arthur Harris, Frank Harris, Richard Klette, Wm. D. Miller and Jess Castle.

Interment was made in the Lusk cemetery and she was laid to rest beside her husband.

Out-of-town relatives here for the services were Phil Johnston, Louise Johnston and Mrs. Neil Johnston of Spearfish, S.Dak., Sarah Harriet Nichols and Miss Sarah Nichols of Sioux Fall, S.Dak., Mr. and Mrs. Jack Chalfant, Burlington, Colol, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Chalfant, Torrington, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wolfe, China Lake, Calif., Miss Betty Wolfe, Laramie, Wyo., Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wolfe, Jay Em, Mrs. William F. Bruner and daughters, Dorothy and Bettijo of Cheyenne and Jay Wolfe from his place near Jay Em.

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