James Tigner

James Robert "Bob" Tigner, 79, was born June 17, 1936 in El Paso, Texas, son of Thomas B. Tigner and Moufie Hoge Tigner. He passed on while in the Saratoga Care Center, Saratoga, Wyoming, on January 7, 2016. Bob grew up in Southern New Mexico and Colorado and graduated from Bent County High School in Las Animas, Colorado in 1954. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1958 with a BS degree and in 1960, an MS, both in Wildlife Management. He was employed as a wildlife research biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Denver, Colorado. In that capacity, he traveled extensively in the United States and in Latin America. In 1966, Bob was assigned a project in conjunction with Aid for International Development (A.I.D.) working with vampire bat and rabies control in Mexico. In 1972, he earned a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Colorado. Afterwards, he moved to Rawlins to work on the effects of coyote predation on sheep in Wyoming. In 1981, he transferred the Bureau of Land Management to prepare Environmental Impact Statements and later to study raptors, primarily the Ferruginous Hawks. He retired in 1995, and, for the next five years, he worked as a wildlife consultant for various oil companies and for Carbon County Weed and Pest. He was a longtime, active member of France Memorial Presbyterian Church in Rawlins. Bob was an avid sportsman (hunting and sporting clays) and always enjoyed the fieldwork as a biologist. He read extensively, with a special interest in World War II history, raptors, and archaeology. He also loved singing and playing the guitar, having been involved in the Church Choir and Community Choir for many years. Bob and his high school sweetheart, Judy Gholson, were married in 1957. They just celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary in December. They enjoyed a full life together, raising their girls, going to musicals and operas, and traveling in the United States and abroad. He is survived by his wife, Judy; daughters, Lori Tigner (Vernon Lovejoy) and Amy Tigner (Tom DeWester); sister, Kathryn Kenner; nephew, Clint Kenner (Linda) and their children and grandchildren; niece, Janet Maddock (Dick) and their children and grandchild; cousins, Bert Goodloe (Collie) and Betsy Gillette (Earl) and their children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. A Memorial Service will be held at France Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1506 Nevada, Rawlins, WY at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 16, 2016. A reception lunch will follow the service. Interment will be in the Las Animas, Colorado Cemetery on Memorial Day weekend. Memorial donations may be made to the Rawlins Cooperative Parish, P.O. Box 146, Rawlins, WY 82301 or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.

Service

Saturday, January 16, 2016 11:00am

France Memorial Church Building

1506 Nevada St.

RAWLINS, WY