Archie England

"Take a deep seat and a long rein!" This is the credo that led Archie England through life. Born on April 1, 1916, he returned to the home ranch on April 29, 2011. Born in Salmon, Idaho, he spent his first 13 years on Bohannon Creek with his parents James and Mary and his brothers, Roy and George and sister, Doris (Yearian). He saddled up at 13 and rode off to be a cowboy! He spent 13 years buckarooing on the Mahaffey Ranch in Salmon. While cowboying was his life, his sports were rodeoing and chasing wild horses.
He married Isabelle Berriadge on June 14, 1941, and spent 56 years in that partnership which ended with Isabelle's death in 1997. They moved to Pocatello in 1944 where he worked for two years for Union Pacific Railroad - the only job he ever truly disliked. In 1946, they began farming in the Blackfoot, Idaho, area and remained there until 1955. Sons, James and Odell, and daughter, Mary, were born during that time. From 1955 - 1961, they dairied and farmed in Tyhee.
In 1961 the family moved to Emmett, Idaho. Following the move to Emmett, Archie spent one year at Plaza Ranch dairy, nine years at David Little Farms and 13 years with the City of Emmett as Sexton. After retirement from the City of Emmett in 1981, he developed his avocation of (re)building sheepwagons and made 13 which are scattered around Idaho. His retirement "job" was preparing and placing headstones (some unknown hundreds) at which he was a master craftsman; he did the sheepwagons and headstones until 2007. In 2003 he married Mary Felicia Waters with whom he enjoyed his last years, especially their trip to Australia.
His wife, Belle; brothers, Roy and George; and stepson, Berry Hill preceded him in death.
His survivors include his second wife, Felicia; his sons James (Hazel) and Odell and daughter, Mary (Marshall Pinkston); grandchildren Willa, Erin, Thomas, Joanna and Evan; great-grandchildren, Andrea, Gregory and Jac;, and great-great-grandchild, Emily; and extended family, Rozanne Robertson and Daniel Ronfeld.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, at the Potter Funeral Chapel in Emmett. Burial will follow at the Emmett Cemetery. Following the graveside service, everyone is invited to a reception at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Emmett.
In lieu of flowers, Archie would appreciate donations to the Gem County Fair Board for the purchase of an electric rodeo scoreboard for other hard of hearing old cowboys.