Obituary: Wanda Walker

Wanda Walker was born June 22, 1925, in Rock Springs, Wyo., to James C. and Barbara Ramsay and passed away Sept. 13, 2012. She spent most of her growing up years on the Ramsay family ranch located south of Rock Springs on Trout Creek. In her teens she could be seen with her dad chasing and catching wild horses that were rampant in the area.
She rode horseback three miles to a one room grade school on Sage Creek then finished her high school years in Rock Springs, Wyo., and Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah, graduating in 1943. Later she attended telegraphy school for the Union Pacific Railroad in Denver, Colo.
Wanda met her future husband, James Boyd Walker, at one of the famous country dances at Ladore Hall in Brown’s Park, Colo., and they were married Feb., 13, 1945, in Rock Springs.
For the next 48 years they ranched together on Douglas Mountain and Vermillion Creek near Greystone, in the Brown’s Park area of northwest Colorado. She was a great calf roper, throwing a neat “two hocker” (picking up both hind feet) which was the only calf catchy allowed at their brandings.
On June 16, 1952, Wanda gave birth to their daughter, Barbara Dawn Walker, after driving herself 80 miles to the hospital in Craig, Colo. Her husband Boyd was at a mountain cow camp branding calves at the time. After the branding he found out what happened and joined his wife and child.
Wanda was preceded in death by her husband Boyd, both of her parents, James and Barbara Ramsay, a brother James Ramsay and a nephew, Boyd Ramsay. She is survived by her daughter, Dawn Nottingham Miller (and her husband Zack) and two great-grandsons, James Nottingham and Trayton Nottingham.
Wanda Walker lost her life while doing what she loved. She was gathering cattle in Zenobia Basin on Douglas Mountain with her daughter Dawn when the horse she was riding accidentally got caught up in some wire. She was thrown and hitting her head, she apparently died instantly. She crossed the great divide wearing her boots and spurs at the grand old age of 87 years.
The memorial service will be held at the LDS church in Craig, Colo., on Saturday Sept. 22 at 11a.m. Cremation remains will be interred later at the Douglas Mountain Family Ranch.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice through Grant Mortuary, Craig, Colo.