Paul Black

Paul James Black, 96, of Bruneau, died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009, on his mother's birthday.

Services will be celebrated on the anniversary of his son Mike's birthday and his granddaughter Karen's birthday, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, with a viewing at 11 a.m. and funeral services at noon at the Bruneau American Legion. Burial will follow at the Bruneau Cemetery in Bruneau and then a potluck dinner back at the American Legion.

Paul was born Oct. 9, 1912, in Bruneau, to Joseph and Virginia Tate Black, early pioneers to the Bruneau Valley. He attended the Bruneau schools and the Congregational Church.

The Blacks raised and sold horses to the US Army and the local livestock industry. He spent his summers on Battle Creek and winters in Bruneau breaking horses.

On April 5, 1938, he married Mattie Louise Ramsey. They spent their honeymoon at Paul's homestead on Battle Creek, the winter in Bruneau, then on the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, running horses. A son, Michael Lavon, was born to them in 1939.

In 1941 Paul became the cattle foreman at the TS Ranch, Battle Mountain, Nev. Two daughters were born while in Nevada, Charlotte Louise in 1942, and Paula Jean in 1943.

They moved back to Bruneau in 1947 and worked for Paul's brother, Albert.

In 1951 they purchased the Fletcher Cullen ranch on Sho Fly Creek, where they raised horses, cattle, pigs, chickens and peacocks. "The door was always open for a hot meal and glass of iced tea," his family said. "Paul adored his wife Mattie, his children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

"Paul was a hardworking, honest, humble man who was fortunate to fulfill his childhood dream of living, loving and dying on the ranch he loved."

Paul is survived by: his wife, Mattie, of 70-plus years; two daughters, Cherry and her husband, Ray Meyers, and Paula and her husband, Jim Hanks; 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters and brother-in-laws, Bessie and Bob Keith, and Millie and Bob Altucker, brother and sister-in-law Albert and Bonnie Black and two brothers, Edgar and Jewell who died at birth; his son, Mike, and daughter-in-law JoAnn Black, and granddaughter Cheryll Ann Meyers.

Memorials may be made to one of the following: The Bruneau Cemetery, P.O. Box 152, Bruneau, ID 83604; The Bruneau American Legion c/o 29776 Davis Rd, Bruneau, ID 83604; or the Grand View Ambulance, c/o 573 N. Bennett Rd, Grand View, ID 83624.