Jim Woolsey

Jim Woolsey, 77 of Rigby, Idaho passed away Thursday, October 5, 2017 in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He was born September 5, 1940 in St. Anthony, Idaho, the son of Frank A Woolsey and Bertheva Clement Woolsey. He attended schools in Kilgore, Hamer and Rigby until the death of his father which he and the oldest of his siblings left school to take care of the family home and work. Jim worked as a cowboy most of his life. This profession led him to work for Cleo and Larry Harrop in Rigby, Idaho, for a while in Big Hole, Montana and also for Paul Von Gontard in Jackson, Wyoming. Jim also worked over 12 years on the Conant Valley Ranch in Sean Valley as a foreman for Walt Pancheri and he worked for a time in California building swimming pools. After the loss of a baby daughter, Frankie Colleen Woolsey, he returned to Idaho and to doing what he loved, cowboying. Jim had loves in his life. Bertha Elaine Dodge was his first wife. Unfortunately they divorced. He then married Viginia Cheryl Bushong. He was later widowed when Cheryl passed away from a long term illness. His greatest love has been Carol Rackham who has been his companion for over 15 years. Jim has always had a love for horses. He has used them for work, for racing and for just riding. He cutter raced in the Rigby Cutter Association for a time where he ran with Rusty and Jim. He was given a belt buckle from the Shriners in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in appreciation for maintaining their race track for their fundraising events. Jim is survived by his companion, Carol Rackham of Rigby, Idaho. His children, Melody Kay Flores of Eureka, CA, Sherry Lynn Wilson of Phoenix, AZ, Tim Guy Woolsey of Arkansas, Jim Frank Woolsey of Eureka, CA, Ross Allan (Melissa Colleen) Bushong of Kennewick, WA, and Michael Bushong of Buckeye, AZ. His siblings, Freda (Lorraine) Pierce of Rigby, ID and Ruben Woolsey of Rigby, ID. Seven grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his baby daughter, Frankie Colleen Woolsey and his sisters, Jane Curtis, Frankie Colleen Francin, Nancy Lake, Virginia McCormick and Dorothy Walton. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Eckersell Memorial Chapel (101 W. Main Street, Rigby, ID). The family will meet with friends prior to the service at the funeral home on Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:45 AM. Interment will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Idaho Falls, ID. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.eckersellfuneralhome.com.