Charles “Jim” James McLeland: October 27, 1949 – October 26, 2022
Charles James “Jim” McLeland, of Gillette, Wyoming, passed away at age 72 on October 26, 2022, at UC Health Anschutz Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado.
Jim was born on October 27, 1949, in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Jim was the youngest of three children. His father, Charles Murel “Mac” McLeland, and his mother, Florence Francis “Teddy” Covey, followed the oil boom to Newcastle, WY, and settled there to raise their family. Jim was the youngest of three children.
He had two older sisters, Betty Payne and Laura Brown. Jim graduated from Newcastle Highschool in 1968 and then went to the University of Wyoming, where he studied accounting. In 1971 he married Deborah “Debbie” Dumbrill in Newcastle, WY. Jim graduated from the University of Wyoming with honors in 1972.
After passing the CPA exam on his first attempt, Jim began working as a CPA in Cheyenne, WY. He and Debbie lived in Cheyenne until 1974 when they moved to Gillette. Jim continued working as a CPA and began what would become M & K Oil Company with his father. Jim and Debbie had three children, Nathan McLeland (Gillette, WY), Morgan McLeland (deceased), and Ryan McLeland (Franklin, TN).
Jim loved his community and gave generously to many local nonprofit organizations. He also served on the Children’s Center board for 13 years. Jim cherished his family. His mother, father, sister Laura, and son Morgan preceded him in death. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 51 years, Debbie; sons Nathan (Robbie) McLeland and Ryan (Kara) McLeland; granddaughters Kaylee, Rooney, and Charley and grandsons Spencer, Breckin, and August. Jim McLeland wanted the New York Yankees to win the World Series this year. They couldn’t get it done, and that’s okay.
Jim wanted to see his son, Morgan, who died in a tragic car wreck with seven of his University of Wyoming Cross Country teammates, twenty-one years ago. He wanted to see Augie, the grandson born in his blindness and Rooney, Charley, Breckin, Spencer and Kaylee. He wanted to see how they grew during his six and a half years of darkness. He wanted to see the sunrises, sunsets, snowfalls, and waves breaking on the beaches that we all described for him. He wanted to see the business that he and his father, “Mac” created, thrive and be a wellspring of benefit for his family, his workers, and the communities that he grew up in (Newcastle) and the one he adopted with a whole heart (Gillette). He wanted to see his profession (accounting) carried on with integrity, honesty and competence. He wanted to see all that he provided to Debbie, his wife of fifty-one years, and all she provided for him bear it’s final fruits in a long span of “golden years.” He wanted to see families, his and ours “multiplied” to replenish the earth. He wanted them to understand and appreciate the earthly places they came from. He wanted to see that five-pound bass he lost a couple of years ago on School Lake, Michigan! (again?)
The things he wanted to see weren’t anything all that unusual, but that’s okay. He didn’t pine for anything extra. His remaining sons Nathan and Ryan and daughter’s-in-law, Robbie and Kara, nieces and nephews, families, friends, and business associates gave him abundant joy. Jim would not have known this principle in words, but one of the wisest things that was ever said is (paraphrased); If you reach middle age still expecting to be rewarded in life for your goodness, you are clinging to an immature view.
What Jim McLeland understood, beyond mere words, was that the real key is, “joyful participation in the sorrows of life.” (Joseph Campbell) For those of us who are still striving, his life was saying: (From “The Yearling” by Maxine Kinnan Rawlings) “Now there’s a thing ever’ man [and woman] Has got to know. Mebbe you know it a’ready. Boy, life goes back on you. You’ve seed how things in the world o’men. You’ve knowed men to be low down mean. You’ve seed ol’ Death at his tricks. You’ve messed around with ol’ salvation. Ever’ man wants life to be a fine thing and easy, ‘Tis fine, boy,’ powerful fine, but ‘taint’ easy. Life knocks a man down and he gits up and it knocks him down again. What’s he to do when he gets knocked down? Why take it for his share and go on.” To this knowledge, Jim added his JOY; his finest accomplishment.
Funeral services for Jim will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-Stake Center 1500 Ohara Drive, Gillette, WY. Visitation will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-Stake Center.
Family request all flowers delivered to the church-please no flowers to their home. Memorials are suggested to benefit the following organizations: Y.E.S. House Foundation, Gillette College Foundation or Campbell County Children’s Developmental Services. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com
Barbara Lee Moudy: March 1, 1933 – October 25, 2022
Barbara Lee Moudy 89, of Newcastle, WY passed away Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at the Weston County Manor, Newcastle, WY.
Barbara was born as the second child of four to Art and Ruth (Black) Cass in Pendleton, OR on March 1, 1933. She was a 1951 high school graduate. She married Stephen (Steve) Moudy on July 25, 1953. The couple had two daughters: Vicki and Julie. Barbara had moved in with her daughter Vicki in 2020 until June of 2022 when she moved to the Manor. She was an avid reader and loved doing word search puzzles.
Barbara is survived by daughters, Vicki (Bill) Mills of Gillette, WY and Julie Scott of Wright, WY; grandchildren, Jennifer (Josh) Hall of Wright, WY; step grandchildren, Heather Orcutt of Gillette, WY, and Misty (Bill) Frieda of Glenrock, WY; great-grandchildren, Samantha (Ronny) Dineen, Stephen Moudy, Billy, Coleton, Katie, and Amber Hall, Madison Mills, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
Barbara is preceded in death by both her parents, a brother, her husband of 54 years and grandson, David Moudy. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716.
Patrick Emery McCarty: February 26, 1945 – October 22, 2022
Memorial service for Patrick McCarty was held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 29, 2022 at Cornerstone Church of God, 408 S. Brooks Ave, Gillette, WY.
Patrick (Pat) McCarty was born February 26, 1945 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to William McCarty and Doris (Pash) McCarty.
This vibrant man has passed away on October 22, 2022, at his home. At his passing both his devoted wife Denise and his niece Christine Hanson were with him. He was under the caring care of hospice CCH for 6 days. Pat lived in Pueblo, Colorado during his early years until he moved to Westcliffe, Colorado in 1957.
He helped his family with the Lake DeWeese Lodge! During the off season he enjoyed exploring around the lake. He was a fun-loving goofball as a kid! He liked mechanics, going to his brother’s football games and being the team water boy! Pat was the life and light to everybody who knew him in Westcliffe.
He was the proud to be the best man at his brother, James McCarty’s wedding to Cece. He is loved very much by his brother’s William (Willy) McCarty and James (Jimmy) McCarty. Also, his sister in laws Pam and Cece.
He was very close and well loved by all ten of his first cousin’s! Pat married Kathleen Wagner in September of 1969. The shared their life with a boy Patrick (Rusty) and a girl (Seona). The family loved living in Bueler, Colorado and each day was full of love and family time. During this time “I remember dad running the Texico Station and 8th ST in Pueblo, Co. I remember him being a very loving father doing everything he could to make each day bright. Pat never knew a stranger; he loved all people at all times! This made his transition to Gillette, Wyoming very easy when he moved here in 1980. He married Denise Gordon, November 1981.
He very loved animals, mostly dogs, horses, cats and wildlife in that order. He loved running sound systems at church, working as a forklift driver and mechanic. He had a blast being pit boss for Campbell Racing with Shawn Campbell.
This vibrant man leaves behind his wife, Denise McCarty and the children he cherished Patrick McCarty II, and Seona (Henry) Coen. Passed before him are his parents, his brothers and his sister-in-law Pam. He leaves 11 great grandchildren, 4 grandchildren, 2 step grandsons, 9 nieces and 3 nephews. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716.
