Thomas Oscar Beck

GURNEY, BUCKINGHAM, BECK, ROWELL

Posted By: KEN BAKER (email)
Date: 6/6/2018 at 15:24:20

Big Piney Examiner, April 1946, Wyoming

Senator Oscar Beck Crosses the Great Divide

Once again this section of Wyoming has been called upon to mourn the loss of one of its pioneer and nicest beloved citizens in the passing of [Thomas] Oscar Beck at the L. C. M. hospital in Kernmerer at 4:30 this morning, Thursday, April 4, 1946, following a prolonged illness incident to age. He had been in the hospital for the past few weeks.

Oscar, as he was familiarly known and called by young and old, was one of Big Piney's most influential citizens and has lived in the midst for more than half a century. He was among the pioneer settlers of the country who homesteaded and started from the scratch to become a well to do rancher and stockman, having retired from that pursuit more than twenty-five years ago.

Mr. Beck served this place in many ways as a member of the School board, on the State Live Stock Board, in the State Legislature during the time this section was a part of Lincoln county, and was Sublette county's first State Senator following the organization of Sublette County in 1921, and served his constituents in a most able manner for several terms, ever having the welfare of the people of the county at heart as a whole. Politically, he was a life-long Republican.

[Thomas] Oscar Beck was a true friend, honest as the day is long in all his dealings with mankind; whose word was as good as his bond; and would go out of his way to do a good turn for a friend or neighbor, and for all this, the world is better that he lived in it, and he will be sadly missed by all.

Mr. Beck was a member of Big Piney Lodge No. 47, A. F. & A. M. and of Big Piney Chapter No. 42, Order of the Eastern Star. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Elks of Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Obituary

Thomas Oscar Beck was born [to Thaddeus L. Beck and Lucia Rowell Beck} in Decatur, Iowa, October 24, 1858, being 87 years of age on October 2, 1945. He was married to Miss Mary Buckingham of Decatur, Iowa, on April 10, 1878, Mrs. Beck having passed away on June 30, 1928 and to this union one son survives, Fred Beck of Big Piney, one granddaughter, Mrs. Marshall Gurney of Big Piney; a brother, Clark Beck, residing in Montana also survives him.

Mrs. and Mrs. Beck came west shortly after their marriage settling first at Fox Park, Wyo., where Mr. Beck worked for a time before coming to Big Piney where they stopped on a homestead a few miles west of town, which they disposed of many years ago, and lived a retired life here ever since.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Community Hall here Sunday, April 7th, under the auspices of Big Piney Lodge No. 47, A. F. & A. M. at one o'clock. Turner Mortuary has charge of arrangements.