Gertrude Nelene Cordray of Sheridan passed away at the Sheridan Manor on June 13, 2011. She was 92 years of age.

Born January 13, 1919 to Erma Mae (Fox) Wood and John Prowell Wood in Wilmore, KS. She and her seven siblings were raised on a small farm there. As a young girl she helped with her younger siblings and also ran a sandwich shop to bring home money for food for the large family. They were members of the First Christian Church. Her family moved from Kansas in 1934 during the "Dust Bowl Days" to Sheridan. There Gertrude acquired waitress jobs at the Sheridan Inn and Sheridan Country Club. She finished high school and graduated from Sheridan High in 1936. She then worked for the Dawes family at the Sheridan Heights Ranch, where she met and married Milton Cordray on July 4, 1937. They had no children.

Gertrude and Milton moved to the PK Ranch where Milton was manager for three owners, The Morgans (who established the famous PK Ranch Rodeos of 1928 & 1929), the Clarks and then the Donald Roberts family. During those years Gertrude served as a dude wrangler, a cook for campouts, cattle drives and brandings. She and Milton showed some fine Registered Hereford for PK and won several Champion and Reserve Championships at the Denver Stock Show and various other places. Their efforts proved very profitable for the PK Ranch owners.

Gertrude was a active member of the Sheridan County Cowbelles and did radio presentations on KWYO promoting beef as a nutritional food and gave out many good beef recipes. She was a fine photographer and took and kept many historic photos of the PK Ranch activities. She always kept beautiful flower beds and had her dog companions - the most recent being "Sparkle".

The Cordrays owned a ranch on Youngs Creek in MT for a few years but sold it when it became too much work combined with the PK duties. In its place they acquired a small A-framed home in Story, WY and called it their "Shangri La" for an occasional getaway.

Her husband had several heart attacks so they retired from ranching and moved to Sheridan. After some rest time Milton became a car salesman for Sheridan Motor. With more time on her hands, Gertrude became an avid reader of Lewis and Clark history, and of the Royal families of England. She also did a lot of canning of fruits and jellies. Her husband passed away in 1981. Determined to survive it all, Gertrude purchased an additional home and had it remodeled to resell as a money maker and as something to fill her lonely days . She proved to be a strong survivor as she had also survived breast cancer which she had had when they were at the PK. Gertrude was an honored guest at the Sheridan Inn to show some of her historic photos of the PK which complimented Ken Kerns presentation of the history of the PK Ranch two years ago.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Arlene Grooms (Archie), sister Virginia (Ginger) Bright (Terry), brother Harold (Woody) Wood (Arline) and sister Margaret Torrens (Elmer).

She is survived by brother Jack Wood, sisters; Eleanor Rinker (Milo) and Dorothy Grooms (Albert-Bud) all of Sheridan, and numerous nephews and nieces including niece Barbara Hoyt who became Gertrude’s faithful care giver for 13 years. G ertrude will be sadly missed by all her closest friends and family members.

Visitation for Gertrude will be from 6 - 7 pm on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at Kane Funeral Home. Funeral Services are at 10:00 am on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at Kane Funeral Home with Pastor Doug Goodwin officiating. A reception will follow at the First Christian Church.

Memorials to honor Gertrude may be made to the Sheridan Dog and Cat Shelter at 84 East Ridge Road, Sheridan, WY 82801.

Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com.

Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

The Sheridan Press - June 20, 2011.