Robert “Bob” Douglas, age 87, has made his last circle on January 6th, 2025, in Sheridan WY.

Bob was born in 1937, in Newcastle, WY to Dean and Elinore (Woods) Douglas, joined shortly by siblings Deeann and Tom.

It is difficult to sum up a life in a few paragraphs but especially when one has lived a life that encompasses so many different interests, businesses and directions. Bob was extremely talented in many different areas, but they all something to do with his Cowboy life. A friend mentioned that Bob was one of the only people he knew with the ability to make a living at many different businesses and they were all things he loved doing. Bob often said he never “worked” a day in his life—he just did the things he wanted and was savvy enough to make a living from them. Bob was an great ambassador for the cowboy way of life—be on time (15 minutes early is considered late), honor your word, pay attention to details, be honest, respectful and always study how to improve any skill. He inspired and helped many younger men on their own way to becoming better horsemen, cowboys or craftsmen.

First and foremost, Bob Douglas was a Cowboy, with a capital C. When Bob ceased his formal education and left home at 14 years old he began working on a small ranch near Moorcroft, WY. He would admit to working one entire day on an oil pipeline job—long enough to know that was not the life he wanted. Bob cowboyed for big and small outfits in Wyoming and Montana and wrangled dudes in the Big Horn Mountains during summers and in Arizona for the winters. He worked many places and met plenty of good folks who helped him along the way. Bob had an incredible memory and recalled the outfits he worked for, guys he cowboyed with, horses he rode and those who helped or inspired him along the way, reminiscing about all of them until he passed away. His cowboy career was cut short by a horse falling and breaking his hip so badly that he spent weeks in St. Vincent’s Hospital and required two surgeries. He was always thankful and appreciative of the HW Willcutt company—who he was working for when he had the horse accident—and who paid the hospital bill of about $30,000 which was a fortune at the time.

In Bob’s true fashion, he seized the opportunity the horse accident presented and began to work at King’s Saddlery in Sheridan under the founder Don King. In Don he found a mentor and friend who schooled him in the craft of saddle making and the ways of business.

Bob would say he wasn’t complete until he met Georgia “Lee” Smith around 1965, in Sheridan. Bob had made sure he had worked out all his “foolishness” by the time he asked Lee to marry him in 1967. Bob found his true partner in Lee—everything they worked at was together as a team. Bob often remarked that he could not have done all the things he did if he hadn’t married Lee. They were married for 57 years and rarely spent a day apart.

Bob spent many years after he and Lee were married as cowboy artist—oil painting and drawing.

Bob was a cattleman for many years, but found a better calling in horse trading—all types of horses were fair game. He sold horses to many ranches in the area and other ranches and guest ranches across the West. He bought and sold all classes of horses and was a true horse trader—and prided himself as one of the only honest ones at a time when that was not the norm. Bob and Lee ran one of the first horse leasing businesses for guest ranches mainly in Wyoming and Montana. They managing a herd of over a hundred horses, each of which Bob knew and could recall where he bought them and the price paid for years afterwards. His memory for horses never dulled with age.

Along with ranching, Bob became a well-respected saddlemaker when he opened his own shop at home. Bob would spend the evenings and long winter days in the shop making saddles. He perfected a strip-down saddle after reading about a colt starting saddle in a Will James book. Spending years in the saddle himself provided insight not many saddle makers had and his saddles were renowned for the excellent seat he put in. He also invented and patented a special type of rigging. Bob in turn taught several other men, and his daughter Sara, the saddle making trade.

The saddle making brought about another business reconditioning and selling vintage/antique leather tools. His love for the traditional tools and the associated business began revitalizing the trade in these tools which his daughter, Sara, has recently assumed. The tools designed and made as “Douglas Tools” (branded with his livestock brand, the Jockey Cap) are still collected and coveted by leather workers in the US and abroad. The ability to buy, sell and trade these tools was a continuation of the skills he had honed trading horses.

In his later years, Bob continued doing leather work—mostly making very unique purses which were sold through Jackalope Ranch in Sheridan. Lucky are those who have anything crafted by Bob Douglas as he was a perfectionist in his work and never stopped thinking about how to improve upon any skill he already had.

Bob was not an emotional person, but he felt deeply about his family, horses, livestock, good cowboy gear and art. He loved nothing better than good horses, ridden by good cowboys, outfitted in correct, handmade gear—much of which he had crafted. He greatly respected anyone who knew how to use the correct gear and who could “make” a horse. Bob also appreciated all types of cowboy art—braiding, leatherwork, bits, spurs or fine art.

His advice was always to do the things that make you happy—you’ll never work a day in your life.

Bob is survived by his wife, Georgia “Lee” Douglas of Sheridan, daughters Sara Hagel, Dayton, WY and Vandy Douglas, Fort Davis, TX, only grandchild Maysa Hagel, Coeur d’ Alene, ID, and sister Deeann (Don) Lassle, Lingle, WY. His family was small, but he held them close in both proximity and in relation to his heart.

Bob was well-known to many people and considered hundreds of people his friends—cowboys, ranchers, horse people, artists, authors, saddle makers and leather workers the world over. We wish we could list all who he thought highly of or spoke of fondly but the list would be a mile long. Thank you to those who called, kept in touch or helped Bob and Lee. We are grateful.

At Bob’s request, no services are planned and cremation has taken place. When the grass is tall and green, the sky is filled with Summer clouds and the meadowlarks are calling, Bob’s ashes will be spread from horseback in good cow country where Bob found peace and happiness in his youth and would like to again.

To remember Bob, the family would love to hear your favorite story or memory of Bob—even if you think they have been shared before. Please mail them to Lee Douglas, 46 Wakeley Rd, Sheridan, WY 82801 or post on Bob’s Facebook page.

And in memory of Bob please look for those who need a helping hand, share knowledge you have and help keep the cowboy way of life going for future generations. “Cowboy Up!”

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Online condolences may be written at https://www.kanefuneral.com/

Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.

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