On Sunday, November 3rd, 2019, James (Jim) Joseph Barger, 90 of Boulder, Wyoming died peacefully in his sleep at the Sublette Center, in Pinedale, Wyoming. On August 23rd, our Dad, Jim Barger suffered a terrible broken femur and various other injuries. With his positive outlook and strength he made it through day after day of Boot Camp (Physical Therapy). Strong does not even scratch the surface of his strength and determination! He kept his charm and charisma as they took absolute fabulous care of him. On October 25th we celebrated his 90th birthday party enjoying family and friends and one dang good beer. We cannot forget the Birthday Card Party where he received 76 wonderful cards and lots of love; what a milestone and honor. With all this being said he gave us SO much love, kisses and hope, until the very end. We were ALL so lucky to be a part of his life.

Jim was the fifth child-third son of Fay Carolla and Anne (Morris) Barger, born on October 25th, 1929 in Superior, Wyoming. In 1938, the Barger family moved to Boulder, Wyoming, from coal mines and boarding house to building a ranching empire. He attended school in Boulder, Wyoming. Jim's love of horses began as a young boy. His favorite horse growing up was a big black gelding named Tony. According to Jim's younger sister Judy, their Dad would say of his three sons, "Jim was the cowboy, Paul was the farmer and Glenn was the mechanic."

Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was 19 years old, deploying to Japan and Germany. He was in the service for 2 years, when President Truman would not allow them to be discharged so he re-enlisted for three more years in order to receive bonus pay. When he was home on leave, he met a young beauty, Rose Mary Kelly from Morton, Wyoming. They were married on January 9, 1953 in Ethete, Wyoming. Two weeks after their marriage, Jim was shipped out to Frankfurt, Germany. He was honorably discharged from the U.S Army, serving a total of 5 years, 2 months and 23 days. Jim was a Lifetime Member of the VFW - Korean War Era.

Jim and Rose made their home in a two bedroom log cabin near Boulder, Wyoming, managing and working on the Barger Ranch. Four daughters were born of this union, Terrie, Becky, Cindy and Connie. He was a strong family man, providing a foundation of work ethics, often with hard work and long hours, but it was ingrained in his family values. His wife and daughters were always a part of the picture tending to the ranch. Chores started at a very young age, gathering eggs, getting the milk cows in and milking if he was running late. Anytime the horses needed to be caught, his daughters would get a can of grain and coax them into the corral. Whether it was going to check the cows, or teaching us how to take care of the horses, or going to check a head gate, our family fun was usually work oriented. Jim's legacy of perseverance, hard work and love of family has been handed down through the next generation of grandkids and great grandkids. Jim took pride in developing the best herd of cattle, riding the best horses and designing the very best facilities to work the cattle either on foot or horseback, always making improvements. Over the years everything Jim did was directly in relationship to "taking care of the cattle and horses". As Jim grew, he was making life goals to become a successful rancher.

Not only did Jim enjoy his cowboy way of life, he loved to take care of and work the land. In 1991, after his parent's ranch sold, Jim and Rose bought property in Kinnear, Wyoming, then in 1998 purchased the ER Schambers place near Pavillion. This was where Jim and Rose were recognized for their land stewardship efforts converting flood irrigation to a low pressure pivot and wheel line irrigation system through a Farm Bill Conservation Security Program. "Their conviction to conservation and all that they, as partners have accomplished, leaves a lasting legacy on the landscape", said Nick Biltoft from the NRCS Riverton field office. The program rewards farmers and ranchers who are implementing conservation on America's working lands, being based on conservation accomplishments, recognizes the contributions of the best land stewards and encourages them to do more. To improve even more on the pivot system, Jim extended the 16-foot booms by six feet. Deflectors that he crafted from quarter inch plastic prevented water getting on the pivot tires which decreases the impact of tracks in his field. This is just one example of Jim's ingenuity and self-taught craft. He always worked hard to improve these places and made a profitable living, always striving for perfection in his wild hay and alfalfa crops.

Jim was self-taught in many ways, whether it be a mechanic working on all the ranch equipment and machinery, putting in a sprinkler system, carpenter, plumber or whatever was needed at the time. Using a stub pencil, Jim kept records in his little pocket journal, always having an accurate account of cattle, horse or hay numbers and important dates. Jim loved rodeoing, riding bulls and cutter/chariot racing. During the early 70's Jim was President of the Sublette County Sporting Association. He often judged in the nightly rodeos in Pinedale and Big Piney. During the summer time, Jim loaded up the family and their horses to attend the Sublette County Barrel Race nights, 4-H play days and horse shows.

This month will be Jim's 7 year anniversary moving back to his roots in Boulder, to be near his daughters and to join his friend and companion, Betty Hunt. Over the course of the years, almost every morning, Jim and Betty, would go to breakfast at the Boulder Store. During the winter months, they would head to Congress, Arizona. They shared times with Betty's family camping, fishing, hunting elk, getting fire wood and going to Hawaii. During the last year, they had membership to The Garage, where they would exercise; doing pushups, dancing, playing tag, lifting weights. On the videos, Dad and Betty were sharing a bench and Dad reached around and pinched her on the behind. They acted like teenagers most of the time. He always made the most of each day, and have fun loving times. We took a trip with Dad and Betty through the petrified forest, white sands and Carlsbad Caverans. Stopping in Winslow, Arizona, and Fort Sumner, where we toured the museum. There were 3 Wyoming displays: a Sublette County Centennial License Plate #23-385, a sheriff's badge from Wind River Indian Reservation and an advertise with Darrell Winfield.

He is survived by his three daughters: Terrie Ann Springman (Bob) who resides in Big Piney, Wyoming and Hurricane, Utah; Becky Louise Hicks (Mickey) from Big Piney, Wyoming; and Connie Ruth Barger (Clayton Lunde) from Boulder, Wyoming, along with seven grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and two siblings: Glenn (Nancy) Edwin Barger of Fruita, Colorado and Judith (William) Anne Rodriguez of Wells, Nevada. Along with his extended family and companion, Betty Hunt and her children-Chuck, Liz, Sue, Kathy and Rosemary; and their families.
Jim is preceded in death by his spouse: Rose Mary Kelly, their infant daughter Cindy; his parents, Fay and Anne Barger, siblings: Alice (Buzz) Fay Fuller, Fay (Buddy) Morris Barger, George Barger, Elizabeth (Bill) Aline Ellis, Paul Raymond Barger, Frances (Chuck) Elaine Steinmetz, Patricia (Ted) Joyce Hiner, and Gerald Barger.

A memorial service will be held Friday November 15 at 11:00 AM at Covill Funeral Home in Pinedale.