Jack Pelissier

Jack Eaton Pelissier passed away peacefully on the evening of March 2nd, 2023, in Sheridan, Wyoming.  He was 86 years old.

Jack was born in Denver, Colorado on April 20, 1937, to Jack Marley Pelissier and Helen Kettering Pelissier.   The oldest of three children, Jack had two siblings, Suzie Pelissier (Hill) and James Marley Pelissier, both deceased.  His father’s employment as a field agent with the FBI led the growing family to live in several cities around the country during his childhood, including stints in New York City, Detroit, Phoenix, and Denver, finally landing the family in the Sheridan/Big Horn area in the early 1950s.

He attended Big Horn High School, from which he graduated in 1955.  An avid athlete, he enjoyed football, basketball, and track.  His favorite sport, however, was anything to do with horses:  riding, roping, bucking, or jumping. 

He spent his summers as a wrangler and ranch hand at Eatons Ranch in Wolf, Wyoming, where he met Sophie Shepley, of St. Louis, Missouri, in 1957. A long courtship commenced, culminating with their marriage in St. Louis in November of 1962.

In the intervening years, Jack attended the University of Wyoming, graduating in 1959.  He proudly served his country as an officer in the United State Marine Corps Reserves from 1960-1970.

Jack and Sophie settled into family life in Sheridan following their marriage and Jack’s honorable discharge from active duty in 1962. They moved to Big Horn in 1965, beginning their family with the birth of their daughter Suzie that same year, with son Jack Eaton Jr. (Jay) arriving in 1966, and son Peter in 1969.

Professionally, Jack became a partner in the Galey-Pelissier Agency with Charles “Chick” Galey in 1965.  The firm handled investments and insurance along with farm and ranch real estate sales.. In 1972, he joined the firm of Bridgeford-Holcomb-Jenrich (BHJ) as a partner working in both the fields of Insurance and Real Estate.

During his business career in Sheridan, Jack, along with partners Walt Pilch and his family members, developed several residential-type subdivisions in the Sheridan/Big Horn area along with two large recreational-type subdivisions in the Big Horn Mountains.  Of those projects, his efforts to convert the Fordyce family-owned TP Dude Ranch in the Big Horn Mountains into a privately owned homeowners association in 1972 was one of his proudest achievements, both professionally and personally. TP Association thrives to this day.

In 1995, BHJ was sold to the Talbot Company of Albuquerque, New Mexico. At this time, Jack purchased the Real Estate business from BHJ, Inc. which included the Century 21 franchise. He owned and managed CENTURY 21 BHJ Realty for the next ten years and sold it to Bruce Garber in 2005.

Over the years, it was Jack’s privilege to serve on various Boards of Directors and Committees, most of which were established to maintain a high-quality way of life for the people in the northern Wyoming area. These included the YMCA, First Interstate Bank, The Bryan Foundation, The Watt Foundation, and Sheridan College.

Jack was also an enthusiastic supporter of Big Horn High School sports over his many years in the community.   He spent a lot of time in the bleachers, both home and away, rooting for and supporting his three children and later his grandson.  He loved every minute of it, win or lose. When he had no more family to follow, he remained a presence, continuing to touch the lives of so many young people.

His wife Sophie passed away in August 2012.  Jack continued to live a full and active life, traveling to visit his children and grandchildren in Los Angeles, California, and, later, in Atlanta, Georgia.  He also remained an active member of the Sheridan community, continuing to serve on those various boards, providing his best wisdom, counsel, or friendship to any who would seek it out.  Even following his “retirement” in 2013, Jack continued to go to the office every day, to “answer my emails, pay a couple of bills, and/or take someone to lunch.”  That practice continued as best he could until the end.

Jack is survived by his children and extended family; Suzie, her husband Andrew Stewart, their children Lulu and Bennett; Jay, his wife Lauren and their son Jack; and Peter, his wife Cathy, and their son Will.

Jack never seemed to have a bad day.  If he ever did, you never knew it.  Nor did he ever meet a person for whom he had less than a kind word.  He lived his best life and left the world a better place for having done so.  He will be forever missed by his family and his friends.  We wish him a safe passage.  Rest in peace, “Cactus.”

Memorial donations can be made to either The Pelissier Family Scholarship at Sheridan College Foundation P.O. Box 6328, Sheridan, Wyoming, or Hospice of The Big Horns, P.O. Box 391, Sheridan, Wyoming, 82801.

A Celebration of Life Reception is 2:30 to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, June 29, 2024, at the Elks Lodge, 45 W Brundage St, Sheridan, WY.. Online condolences may be made to www.sheridanfuneral.com. Arrangements are under the care of Sheridan Funeral Home.