Joseph Ogden Dowdy

Memorial services for Joseph Dowdy, 58, will be held at the Upton Community Center at 10 am on Jan 25th with a viewing at 9 am.
Mr. Dowdy died peacefully on Jan 17, 2008 at home in Salt Lake City following a lengthy and courageous battle with leukemia.
Joe was born to Jack and Rue Dowdy on Sept 24, 1949 in Hudson, Colorado and then the family moved to Upton, Wyoming while Joe was still a young boy. Joe grew up in Upton attending and graduating high school there. While growing up Joe helped out at his father's motorcycle shop and other business ventures. He also worked various farming and ranching jobs for relatives and friends.
After high school Joe joined the Wyoming National Guard for a total of nine years and was honorably discharged. He also met Karen Nicolls of Newcastle and they were married July 7, 1973 in Newcastle. The couple made their home near Sundance working on a local ranch until 1982 when they moved to Newcastle. In the following years Joe and Karen started a family, eventually raising three children. Joe worked a variety of jobs related to the oilfield and construction industry for a number of years. In 1996 Joe returned to the ranching industry, but this time dude ranching. Joe and his wife moved the family to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to manage a dude ranch and later moved to Chama, New Mexico to be assistant managers of a ranch there until 2003. His final job before becoming ill was driving truck for Jim Lee Trucking of Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Joe enjoyed spending his free time with his family, snowmobiling, fishing, camping, and a variety of other outdoor activities. Over the years Joe made many friends and there were few who didn't instantly take a liking to him. Joe was known for being a down to earth, hard-working man.
Preceding him in death are his parents and infant son Kyle. Survivors include his wife Karen; sons Eric of Brighton, Colorado; Adam of Rock Springs, Wyoming; and daughter Courtney of Nevada, Missouri. Also surviving are Joe's brother Jack (Cindy) of Manhattan, Kansas; sister Barb (Bill) Riehmann of Upton, Wyoming; and sister Joyce (Ken) Avery of Newcastle, Wyoming; In Laws Corbin and Helen Nicolls of Newcastle, Wyoming, and many other aunts, uncles, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to Cowboys Against Cancer or the Huntsman Cancer Institute. The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses, and other amazing staff at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital, University of Utah Hospital, and Rocky Mountain Hospice that have cared for Joe the last two years.