Ellen Fitzpatrick

Graveside Funeral Services for Ellen Fitzpatrick, a 100-year-old Buffalo woman who passed away Tuesday at the Johnson County Health Care Center in Buffalo will be held Saturday, April 2nd  at 2:00 p.m. in Willow Grove Cemetery in Buffalo with Pastor Matt Aspinall officiating. Donations in Ellen’s memory may be made to the Buffalo Senior Center in the care of the Harness Funeral Home at 351 N. Adams in Buffalo.  Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com

Obituary written by Mary Ellen Fitzpatrick  (about 2009)

I was born in Port Angeles, Washington on August 21, 1921, to Vern and Letta Slaybaugh. They moved back to Wyoming when I was 3 years old. We lived on a ranch in Alva. The folks had Jersey cows and Leghorn hens and sold eggs, cream, and vegetables. My dad built a schoolhouse out of slab boards. My sisters and brother went to school there with another family.

When I was 13 years old, I went to work for a family with 4 kids. The oldest one was 4.

I married Frank Pehringer on the 5^th of Aug 1935. We lived in Alva until we came to Buffalo in 1944 with the Shrum Lumber Company. Frank worked there until he died on 18 September 1961 at age 48.

We had 2 girls and 7 boys. I have four boys still living.

I cooked at the Idlewild Café for 15 years. After Frank passed away, I worked for the U. S. Forest Service for 11 years.

I married Charles R “Bob” Fitzpatrick on 23 June 1978. We worked for the U M Ranch for 5 years and then at the HF Bar Ranch for 18 years. After we retired, we spent winters in New Mexico and traveled some. We worked until we were 80 years old. Then we raised a garden, played cards, read, and took long walks.

Bob passed away on Oct. 1, 2009, after a long illness.

I am preceded in death by both my husbands and my daughters (Fredamae and Luellen), three sons (Mickel, Carl, and Bill), two grandsons, my brothers (Don and Clifford), and sisters (Vyrlee Vinyard and Fern Lohof).

I still have my sons; Don, Jerry, Leon Pehringer (of Wyoming) and Ray Pehringer (Utah), and my sister; Myrtle Burns of Buffalo, WY. 21 grandkids, 20 great-grandkids, 4 great-great-grandkids.