Jeff Woolston

The evening of December 22, 2014, Jeff passed away peacefully at West View Nursing Home in Sheridan, WY as a result of liver failure. Jeff was 54 years old. Family and special friends were with him to the end.
Jeff was born in Sheridan, WY on October 16, 1960. He was the second of three children of Jane J. Rice and William Homer (Bill) Woolston III.
Jeff graduated from SHS with the class of 1979. He was active in 4H & FFA, showing cattle and horses at county and state fairs.
Jeff was born absolutely full of life! Curious about everything that crossed his path. He was very intelligent and would get bored easily if he wasn't being stimulated intellectually or creatively. This is most likely why he was sent to the principal's office quite regularly during his school years! Or maybe it was because he was doing things like pulling his 6th grade teachers wig off her head in the cafeteria during lunch time? All done with a huge smile on his face I am sure! Anyone that knew Jeff remembers his big smile, smiling eyes and his laugh.
Jeff, along with his family, grew up on their family ranch, the Wrench Ranch, three miles north of Sheridan. Jeff had a deep love of the ranch, and enjoyed working, playing, and watching wildlife on the ranch that his grandparents had worked so hard to put together and improve. Jeff loved to clean things up, and make things neat & organized. He built and repaired much of the infrastructure on the ranch, worked in the hayfields, irrigated & rounded up cattle. Jeff built the sale ring in the haymow of the ranch's historic show barn at the main ranch.
Jeff was extremely creative and imaginative. He could construct anything mechanical; auto restoring, renovating old buildings, welding. He was passionate about old cars; through the years owned several beautiful classic cars, doing most of the mechanical improvements himself. He built a horse trailer in high school welding class. He loved antiques, and collected many over his lifetime.
Jeff was an avid reader. Non-fiction, Science, History, Biographies were favorites. When Andrew, Jeff's nephew, was in second grade, Jeff wanted Andrew to start reading National Geographic. He made a deal with Andrew that for every magazine Andrew read, Jeff would pay him $10. Well, the first month Andrew read eight magazines!
Jeff loved the mountains, skiing, hiking, canoeing, motor cycles, traveling, the ocean, taking road trips, music, wearing hats & loved playing jokes on people and watching their reactions! He loved adventure and the thrill of trying anything new and daring.
When in his 20's, Jeff bought the Mission Bar in Sheridan. He took great pride in remodeling the old building; renaming it the Beaver Creek Saloon. After the Wrench Ranch sold in 1995, Jeff moved to Ouray, CO. His love for the San Juan Mountains began. First, a small grocery store with an apartment in Ouray was purchased and redesigned. Later he traded his share in the Beaver Creek Saloon in Sheridan for a house in Ouray. During renovation of this home, to suit his creative tastes, Jeff brought to Ouray 3 truckloads of stone from a 2 story rock house on Tongue River that he had previously dismantled. Jeff spent many years in Ouray, and became active in local business and politics, striving to improve the area. He explored his new grounds extensively and soaked in the hot springs of Ouray for relaxation. He later purchased Redstone Castle in Redstone, CO which he owned for two years. He loved Redstone Castle and was very saddened to see it go. Jeff was definitely a wheeler dealer, high roller kind of guy. He had a high threshold for risk, willing to risk all for what he wanted to achieve.
After being in Ouray for a few years, Jeff met Sue Williamson, the mother of Jeffs two daughters, Dallas and Jesse. Jeff loved his girls with all of his heart. He was so proud of his daughters, and loved telling about their achievements in school, sports and favorite hobbies. Jeff loved his family & friends unconditionally. He had his big smile and laugh to the end. He will be terribly missed & never forgotten.
Jeff was preceded in death by William (Bill) Woolston (father), John E. Rice (Grandfather), Ruth Rice (Grandmother), Harley Woolston (Grandfather) and Mabel Woolston (Grandmother). He is survived by Dallas Williamson (daughter), Jesse Williamson (daughter), Jane Rice (mother), Jill Flack (sister), William Woolston (brother), Andrew Flack (nephew), Julia Flack (niece), Hastings Woolston (nephew) and Colyer Woolston (nephew).
My family and I would like to invite all of Jeff Woolston's friends and family to his Memorial Celebration. It will be held on Sunday, June 14, 2015, 2 to 4 p.m. at Grace Anglican Church... the old country club, 1992 W. 5th St. Please think of stories and memories you have of Jeff that you would like to share with everyone. There ought to be ALOT of really good ones :). And don't be shy... the more the better! Hope to see you there!
Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com.
Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
This obituary was originally published in The Sheridan Press (Sheridan, WY).