Willis M. Spear
Willis M. Spear, 74, Of Sheridan, Died Early Sunday A.M.
Willis M. Spear, 74, of Sheridan, passed away early last Sunday morning, having suffered a heart attack only the day previous, so his death came as a shock to his wide circle of friends throughout the state.
Mr. Spear came to Wyoming in a covered wagon as a boy of 12 years, having been born in Rockpost, Mo., in 1862.
He has been actively engaged in the cattle business in the Big Horns for the past 53 years and of late years has been one of the successful dude ranchers of the Sheridan community.
About a century ago Mr. Spear ruled a cattle empire of more than a million acres, stretching all the way from the Wyoming line to the Yellowstone river, along the eastern side of the Crow reservation and nearly 60,000 head of cattle were running on the Spear range.
Funeral services were held at 2 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon in Sheridan and were in charge of the Elks lodge with the Rev. Donald G. Smith officiating, and burial was made in the Bellevue Memorial Park.