Clark Wheeldon
September 29, 1926 — December 20, 2010
When he was 1 A½ years old his mother May Imeson Wheeldon died. He then lived with his grandparents until 1936. When his grandmother died he was on his own from then on. In the summers he worked for different ranches and in the winters he worked for board and room.
He went to first grade in Jackson, Dorothy Yokel was his teacher. Then for three years he went to school in Horse Creek in a little one room school house, his teacher was Jennivive Ward. At that time he was living up Horse Creek at the Castle Rock Ranch.
He attended the 5th through the 8th grade in a two room schoolhouse, by the old swinging bridge, which was near Porcupine Creek. The school only had one teacher, all grades were taught by Fern Borgman.
Life was tough during these times. His normal day started with the milking five head of cows then walk to school, which was five miles each way. After he got back to the ranch he would continue another mile up the road to feed 1200 head of elk. If life wasn't hard enough already the neighbors got sick that winter and Clark had to feed their 100 head of cows as well. He would finish the day where he started once again milking the five milk cows with any luck he would grab a bit of dinner and go to bed around 11 PM.
He worked for Gib Scott 1937, 1938, and 1939 on his ranch up Porcupine Creek. Summers he received $15 a month and worked for room and board in the winter. "Nights were short and the days were long" but it was a good life for him.
At the age of 13 he started working for George Robertson, the year was 1940. He did ranch work for George and even got to help tame Fuzzy the elk. He got the handsome sum of $40 a month working for George whom he dearly loved . At the time of Georges' death in 1961 he thought of him as a father.
In 1942 he started guiding hunters for the government. He guided many prominent government workers even John Browning famous for inventing the Browning Automatic Rifle (B.A.R.). The following year he started up his own outfit, guiding and hunting every year up to the time of his death.
He married Georgean Neva Robertson on June 11, 1943. He worked for a bit for Louis Dopera at his ranch near Astoria Hot Springs. Later they lived on the Rafter C Ranch up Horse Creek, with their three children Chet, Freddie, and Chancy.
September of 1952 Clark and Georgean lost their home to a fire. Clark was severely burnt sustaining 3rd degree burns to over two thirds of his body. Recovery was long after many surgeries and skin grafts, a testament to Clark's strong will and determination. He weighed only 92 pounds when he was released from the hospital, but was back to work by December.
Along with the ranch work Clark supplemented his income with many other jobs. In the early 50's he started doing contract work for the telephone company, the work lasted through 1970. He buried most of the phone lines in Yellowstone. In the 60's he worked throughout the park and as far South as Utah, spraying trees to kill the pine beetles or "buggin the trees" as they called it.
In the 70's and 80's he continued his hunting business, ranching and telephone work. On August 8, 1987 Georgean passed away leaving a huge hole in his heart which was never filled. Clark continued to work though out the 90's but always made time to spend with his family and grandchildren.
About 10 years ago Clark bought a house in Tacna, Arizona and that is where he spent his winters pursuing his passion for gold mining. From 2000 on he continued to work in Jackson Hole working on the Mill Iron Ranch, helping 3-B Construction, building fence with Shawn and Jason Wheeldon, and in the summer of 2010 you could find Clark enjoying another life long passion helping with the Jackson Hole Rodeo. Not only could he out work a crew but he would take the time to show them how it was done.
Clark Wheeldon was a brilliant self-educated man and had a wit about him that everyone came to know and love. He was always surrounded by friends and enjoyed every minute of it.
He is survived by his children Chet & Karen Wheeldon, Philip & Freddie Wilson, Chancy & Kim Wheeldon, Grandchildren Bodee, Brandon & Buskin Wilson, Karissa Musich, Shawn & Jason Wheeldon & Coby & Sadee Wheeldon and his 15 great grandchildren.