Jerome "Jerry" DeFord
Jerome "Jerry" Deford
Jerome "Jerry" DeFord, 77, of Banner, passed away on June 10, 2008, at Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County.
Jerry was born on Jan. 21, 1931 to George and Sara DeFord in St. Ignatius, Mont. At age eleven Jerry went to Burns, Ore. to live with Jim Poteet, an excellent rancher and stockman. Jim greatly influenced Jerry's life. Jim always sent Jerry home to Ridgefield, Wash. to attend school, but summers were spent at the Bell A Ranch at Burns. Jerry did attend Burns High School his senior year and graduated from there. He married Honey Stevick Maller in Riverton, Wyo. on Oct. 12, 1979. In 1981 Jerry and Honey started ranching on their own, primarily in Weston and Niobrara counties. Jerry started team roping and enjoyed participating in local ropings and he joined the "Old Timers Rodeo Association". Jerry loved good quality cattle, good horses, and good cow dogs. He believed in good conservation of the land and has received several stewardship awards for good land management. Jerry managed several large ranches, the last one being in Dubois for the Walt Disney family. In 2007, Jerry and Honey moved from their Cheyenne River home of twelve years, due to the sale of the ranch, to the Wuthier Ranch on Piney Creek between Sheridan and Buffalo. The wide-open spaces were Jerry's church.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; a son, David DeFord in 1994; brothers, George DeFord and Jim Deford; a sister, Betty DeFord Jedouin. He is survived by his wife, Honey of Banner, his children, Henry DeFord (Cathy) of Helena, Mont., Steve Wuthier (Teri) of Buffalo, Wyo., and daughter-in-law, Sally C. DeFord of John Day, Ore., his siblings, Daniel DeFord (Judy) of Calif., Bruce DeFord (Carol) of Wash., Mahlon DeFord (Laura) of Wash., and Les DeFord (Darlene) of Ore., his four grandchildren, Ginger DeFord Gertis (Sherman) of John Day, Ore., Dwight DeFord (Stacey) of John Day, Ore., Jerry "JD" DeFord (Jesse) of Livingston, Mont., and Bridget DeFord Ward (Corby) of Big Timber, Mont., and eleven great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place and services will be held at a later date in Newcastle, Wyo. Jerry's ashes will be returned to a favorite spot in the Crazy Mountains near where he had ranched in Montana. Kane Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorials be made in Jerry's name to the Newcastle High School Rodeo Club, the Lusk High School Rodeo Club, or the National High School Rodeo Association Scholarship Fund, c/o Honey DeFord, 433 Lower Piney Creek Rd., Banner, WY 82832.