Buck Wilson
Charles Jacob “Buck” Wilson was born Dec. 31, 1926, on his grandfather’s homestead in Yuma County, outside of Wray. He died Oct. 24, 2019, just short of his 93rd birthday, less than a hundred yards from where he was born. He was born as the third child of James Franklin Wilson and Dorothy Emma Klein.
Buck attended the Fairview No. 70 country school north and west of Wray through eighth grade with his siblings, James F. Wilson, Helen Wilson Weaver, Barbara Wilson Childress, William Wilson, David F. Wilson and Kay Wilson Phipps. Another brother, Robert, died at an early age from tetanus after a horse-riding accident. When he was old enough for high school, Buck attended Wray High School and graduated with the class of 1945.
After high school Buck worked with his father on the homestead and for various neighbors, helping provide for the family. During summers his favorite activity was traveling to North Park, near Walden, to help with haying season and to fish when they couldn’t hay. He was an amazing fisherman throughout his life. No one could ever figure out how he would always be the only one to catch anything.
Buck started dating a neighbor girl, Ida Delia “Dee” Larreau, who ended up being his lifelong love. Buck and Dee were married on June 16, 1956, at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Wray. To this union, they were blessed with eight daughters and one son.
With his father-in-law’s help, Buck built a house just southwest of the homestead home where he had been born. He only moved once in his 92 years, and it was less than 100 yards away.
Buck purchased the family homestead in 1965. He developed one of the first irrigation systems in the county and upgraded to a pivot when they became available. Most of the neighbors thought he was crazy for trying to farm in the sand.
Along with crops, cattle were a major part of his operation. He proved his innovating spirit by being one of the first to artificially inseminate, crossbreeding with Maine-Anjous, and being an original member of the Kitzmiller Grazing Association. He continued to farm and ranch until the early 1990s when he leased the farm to his sons-in-law.
Being a conservationist came naturally for Buck. From a young age, he worked to preserve and improve the homestead. He had a lifelong commitment to planting windbreaks and improving the wildlife habitat. He could describe in detail all the deer, pheasants and other wildlife that shared the prairie with him. In 2006 Buck and Dee were honored as Outstanding Cooperators of the Year by the conservation district for their lifetime commitment to the conservation of natural resources.
Buck was active in the community, serving on the Consumers Co-op board and the RJ-2 school district board. He spent time serving as a 4-H leader and being active in the Cattlemen’s Association, Farmers Union, and the Fairview and Wauneta communities. Buck was a lifetime member of St. Andrew Catholic Church.
Wilson Ranch was recognized in 2007 as a Colorado Centennial Farm and is considered home to Buck and Dee’s large extended family. Every year, Buck and Dee hosted a reunion for family to come and reconnect. Nothing gave him more joy than seeing the kids playing in the front yard or the sandbox. His constant smile made all the world seem brighter.
Although a quiet man, Buck was known for his patience, genuineness and openness to all. He always had time to visit with anyone. When Buck’s father died, a local editor described him as being “salt of the earth.” Buck said that was probably the best compliment that a neighbor could give a person. Have no doubt that Buck was also considered “salt of the earth” by all that knew and loved him. His presence was a constant and sustaining part of everyone he touched.
Buck was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jim, Bill and Robert; sisters, Helen and Kay; and step-grandson, Christopher.
Surviving him are his wife Dee; brother, David and Margaret of Philadelphia; sister, Barbara of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and his children, Margaret and Mike Lenz of Wray, Vivian and Ted Graf of Casper, Wyoming, Dorothy and Kent Wisdom of Fleming, Jerrie and Buck Root of Douglas, Wyoming, Becky and George Lenz of Wray, Tedd Wilson of Fort Collins, Ardith and Ray Hendrix of Wray, Donna Goodsell Wilson of Greeley, and Sarah and Scott Moore of Seward, Nebraska; 32 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren. His surviving extended family includes several in-laws and numerous nephews and nieces.
A funeral mass for Buck was held Nov. 2 at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Wray, with a rosary and family visitation the evening of Nov. 1. Interment was at the Wilson Ranch homestead north of Wray.
Memorials in Buck’s name may be made to Hospice of the Plains or the Wauneta Volunteer Fire Department.
Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Wray was in charge of arrangements.