Leo Woodbury, 1938-2017
BUFFALO, WY – Leo Angus Woodbury, 79-year-old Johnson County rancher, passed away quietly October 19 at the Johnson County Health Care Center in Buffalo. A celebration of his life was held October 25 at the Brian and Rita Long Ranch at 924 Trabing Road (formerly the Woodbury Ranch). A private family interment was held later. Donations in Leo’s memory may be made to the Paws for Purple Hearts in care of the Harness Funeral Home at 351 N. Adams in Buffalo.
Leo Angus Woodbury was born January 2, 1938 in View, Idaho to Glenn and Peale Woodbury. The family moved to Salmon, Idaho where he attended school, and later to Stevensville, Montana where he graduated from Stevensville High School in 1956. Leo received a rodeo scholarship and attended Montana State University in Bozeman until his passion for ranching called him home. The family later moved to Ruby Valley, Nevada where they owned and operated a ranch for several years. They returned to Montana in 1960, ranching at Geyser until 1973 when they bought a ranch on Middle Hill and the family moved their ranching operation to Weiser, Idaho.
Leo married Mary Jo Glasmann November 28, 1986 in Star, Idaho. They made their home in Star for three years before moving to Millsap, Texas where they owned and operated a cutting horse breeding and training facility. In 1996, Leo and Jo moved to Buffalo, Wyoming and a year later they moved their cutting horse breeding and Dorper sheep operation to Buffalo. They also raised Angus cattle. Leo and Jo spent their winters in Wickenburg, Arizona where they enjoyed the warmer temps and sunny days jackpot roping and working their Border Collie dogs.
Leo was a Gold Card PRCA Cowboy, a member of the Idaho, Wyoming Cutting Horse Association and the NCHA, He also been a board member of The United States Border Collie Association States winning many championship trials.
He competed nationally in bulldogging, calf roping and team roping, was successful in snaffle bit and hackamore events, and was a force in the cutting horse arena.
He is survived by his wife Jo Woodbury of Buffalo; from a previous wife, he had two sons, Lee Woodbury of Phoenix, Arizona and Russ Woodbury of Caldwell, Idaho; one daughter, Cindy Jones-Batten and her husband Ray of Malakoff, Texas; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.