Raymond George Mentock passed away November 29, 2016. A Visitation will be held at 6:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 4, 2016, at Kane Funeral Home with Father Glenn Whewell officiating. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 5, 2016, at Holy Name Church with Father Glenn Whewell officiating. Interment with Military Honors will be in the Sheridan Municipal Cemetery with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall.
He was born November 23, 1926, in Dietz, Wyoming to Andrew and Mary Mentock. He married Alice Demchok of Sheridan on November 24, 1949, at St. Thomas Church in Monarch on Thanksgiving Day. He and his wife Alice just celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary, again on Thanksgiving Day, one day after his 90th birthday, along with all of their sons and their families.
He attended grade school in Monarch and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1944 and immediately served his country in the U.S. Army. He then earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Colorado. He worked in the construction industry for 42 years. He was involved in large building projects across the state. In a rebirth of his career, he helped supervise the Buffalo Bill Memorial Museum expansion, a West Park Hospital renovation, and the Shoshone First National Bank, all in Cody. He was also proud to have helped in the remodeling of the Lake Hotel in Yellowstone Park.
He loved spending time in the mountains at the family cabin hunting, fishing and teaching others to fly-fish. He and his family moved to Cody in 1956 and immediately took root there. They were active members of St. Anthony's Parish and he was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He really enjoyed helping provide breakfasts to hundreds of churchgoers. In the community of which he was so proud he served 12 years on the Cody city council and two terms on the Cody school board. He was the school board representative to the Children's Center in Thermopolis. He was on the Cody Planning and Zoning board for many years, and served on the Yellowstone Regional Airport board. He helped organize, and served on, the Shoshone Recreation District and Park County Recreation District boards. Mentock Park, in Cody, was named for him, as he was instrumental in its establishment. Later, he served on the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitors Center board and liked showing visitors around the site. He was past commander of the Cody American Legion, and served as athletic officer for their baseball program for over twenty years.
Ray is survived by his wife, Alice, his sons Dick (Sabrina), Jim (Donna), Tom (Sarah), Dan (Tricia), Dave (Deryn), and Tim. He is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as a sister Eleanor Christopher of Longmont, CO and a brother Bill of Buffalo.
He was preceded in death by son Bill in 2012 and by an infant son Robert in 1955.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made in Ray's memory to American Legion baseball – Post 20 of Cody or Post 7 of Sheridan, whichever side you happen to be on.
Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com.
Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
