Cloudy, 36° F
James Bernie Blackstone, 85, died at his home, surrounded by his three children, a “worn-out cowboy,” as he was addressed by a long-time friend.
Born on a cold January day in 1929, his mother kept busy keeping the kitchen wood stove stoked, and wondered if he would survive the cold, as ice built up on windows and walls of the bedrooms of their home on Sage Creek.
James was descended from immigrants who included soldiers, frontiersman, homesteaders, a tailor, cobbler, Texas trail rider, a teacher and an Oklahoma land rush settler. Many enjoyed the stories James shared about history of his life. These stories included accounts of bank robbers, horse thieves and cattle rustlers he and his family had known.
James attended a country school, where he faced strong competition as the only boy with several girls in his class. He maintained, graduating high school as valedictorian. After graduation, James started community college in Powell, and later transferred to University of Wyoming, completing his bachelor’s degree in agriculture and animal husbandry while continuing to work on the family ranch.
He was an excellent roper and did some calf-roping in the Cody rodeo, as well as in real life, working cattle on the ranch, working and moving cattle, on horseback, over most of the areas from Burlington to Meeteetse, across the McCullough Peaks, to their ranchland on Heart Mountain.
On July 2, 1955, in Cody, James married Arvella Marie Madson, from Paradise Valley north of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. James called her his “little doll.”
With a family of five, James returned to UW to complete his master’s degree, also in agriculture, in a year. On completion of this degree he went to work for Farm Home Administration, working in offices around Wyoming for the next 20 years. In 1984 James and Arvella relocated to Thermopolis, where James worked for the Soil Conservation Service for several years before retiring. After retirement, James and Arvella relocated back to Cody, where James worked as an independent consultant, substitute teacher, taught pack saddle construction and continued to ranch part-time.
One of James’ greatest joys was spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
James was preceeded in death by his parents, Bernie M. Blackstone and Jessie Iris Genter Blackstone, Arvella, his wife of of 55 years, and sister, Charlotte.
James is survived by his brother, Charles Blackstone; sisters Helen Harke and Marjorie (Mike) Alaimo; children, Lauretta Walker, James E. Blackstone, Katrina (Bob) Nelson; grandchildren Tyler (April) Walker, Wesley Walker, Russell Walker, Kourtney Blackstone, Adrianne Blackstone, Jacob Nelson, Darren (Erica), Nelson, Spencer Nelson, Monica Nelson; and his three great-grandchildren, Emory, Liam Walker and Demo Nelson; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews and great-nieces and -nephews and many friends.
Funeral services will be held at Ballard Funeral Home on Saturday, Aug. 2, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery.
