Alex Nixon Ogilvie, 83

Alex 'Alec' Nixon Ogilvie, 83, died peacefully March 23, 2008, at the V.A. Nursing Home in Sheridan, Wyo. Alec was born on Oct. 1, 1924, in a tar paper shack near Cohagen, Mont. He was the second youngest of seven children born to Alexander and Cuma Ogilvie. It was a hard-scrabble country that favored the hard and the strong. In 1936, Cuma moved to Greeley, Colo., where Alec attended school. He graduated high school in 1942.

At the age of 18, Alec joined the Marine Corps where he trained as a paratrooper and sharpshooter. He served in the South Pacific, where he fought at Bougainville and Iwo Jima. His experiences were so horrific that he could never recount them. The one good memory he had was with his buddies on the beach, where they made an oven in the sand. Alec baked a pie with some jam and rations. After the war, he served as a military policeman in Japan.

After Alec's honorable discharge in 1945, he taught school at Spring Creek near Jordan. That winter he perfected the art of baking biscuits. Alec worked for Bud and Bobby Kramer in Ingomar, gathering wild horses. He lived in an unheated sheep wagon for six years. He was extraordinarily tough. There was no pain he had not lived through, so his compassion was seldom given to others.

Alec married Ethel Lambert in 1951. Together they had four beautiful girls, Marcia, Della, Alexa and Rinda. He raised them to be tough, traveling to horse sales and rodeos. They lived near Florence, training barrel horses and trading horses. Alec and Ethel divorced in 1974.

Alec valued independence and self-sufficiency. He was quiet, with a wry sense of humor. He loved auctions of any kind. Alec respected cowboy traditions, but he was not bound by them. For example, he wore moccasins because boots were uncomfortable. He was a hand and never felt he had to prove it. Alec inspired respect.

In 1976, Alec married Claudia Whiting in Dayton. They had two daughters, Skye and Blue. Alec bought and sold hundreds of horses, ponies and milk cows. He loved having his girls try out the new ponies he bought. He owned one sorrel pony, 'Scotty,' seven times.

Alec loved the American West, its history and people. No museum was too small and no landscape was too big to explore. In 1983, he followed his dream of seeing Australia. For six months Alec and his family experienced the rugged outback.

Alec walked his own path through life. He never lied about a horse he was selling, but he did not feel the need to share what he saw as obvious, either. Alec was hospitable, made sourdough pancakes every morning, and loved to play practical jokes on people and not let them in on it. He didn't smoke, drink or cuss profanely. His 'yes' meant 'yes' and his 'no' meant 'no.'

Alec was not prejudiced against man or horse, as long as they were not phony. He believed all had the right to make choices without his interference. He was not too proud to buy Appaloosas, Arabians, mules, goats or milk cows — they all had value. Although he never said it out loud, Alec believed his girls could do anything. He was proud of their talents and never stopped them from riding broncs or heading out into the world. Alec lived his life without fear of the future.

Alec is survived by his wife, Claudia, of Newcastle, Wyo.; sister, Edith Opsahl; daughters, Marty Greany, Della Epler, Alexa Roy, Rinda Solis, Skye Ogilvie and Blue Borton; and numerous nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. on May 10 at the Jordan Community Center in Jordan. Condolences and memories of Alec can be left at the guest book on www.legacy.com.