Paul S. “JR” Woolfolk, Jr.

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Paul S. Woolfolk, Jr. (“JR”), age 81, passed away on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. He was born on Sept. 8, 1944 in Syracuse to Paul and Fannie (Singleton) Woolfolk who lived southwest of Tribune. JR was baptized in Sheridan Lake, Colo. in 1960. He graduated from Greeley County High School in May 1962. After high school, he had various jobs in agriculture around Tribune; Arapahoe, Colo.; and Clovis, New Mexico. He also began a college degree at Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla. 

JR was married to Wynelda Ingels in Guymon, Okla., on January 23, 1965. He was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1969 and served as a combat medic in the 27th Surgical Hospital in Vietnam from July 1969 to January 1971. During his service, he received two bronze service stars related to the Republic of Vietnam Campaign. 

In 1974, JR and Wynelda had a son (February), and JR finished his B.S. degree (May) in Business Administration from Oklahoma Panhandle State University. In July 1980, JR and Wynelda were divorced. In October 1981, JR married Carol Lake in Guymon, Okla., where they resided and helped raise her three sons, Jeff, Greg, and Mark Odell. JR was very passionate about agriculture and especially farm equipment. He began his career in ag equipment at Spur Equipment in Guymon, Okla. He spent over 40 years in ag equipment sales and dealership management across four states, including Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Texas. He was well known by dealers and growers in the Southern Plains for finding the right equipment to meet growers’ needs and loved to “make a deal.” He sold and supported brands including International, Versatile, CaseIH, John Deere, New Holland, Flex-King, Great Plains, and many other allied brands. JR and Carol moved to Tribune in 1993, where JR worked remotely for various equipment dealerships and enjoyed working on vehicles and equipment at his building in Towner, Colo. Due to declining health, JR has been a resident of the Kansas Soldiers’ Home in Ft. Dodge for the past 7 years.

JR’s survivors include his wife, Carol Woolfolk of Belton, Texas; his son, Curt Woolfolk and wife Sharla of Plymouth, Minn.; his step-sons, Jeff and Paige Odell of Belton, Texas; Greg Odell of Frisco, Texas; and Mark and Tina Odell of Blanchard, Okla., one sister, Maylene Harder and husband Loren of Amarillo, Texas; one brother, Carl Woolfolk of Farmington, New Mexico, and granddaughters, Ava Woolfolk of Plymouth, Minn., Abby and Chris Johnson of Dallas, Texas; Hannah Odell of Boston, Mass.; Emma Odell of Blanchard, Okla., Ava Odell of Blanchard, Oklahoma, Kayli Odell Mathew of Mustang, Oklahoma, Lauren Odell Williams of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Grace Odell of Los Angeles, Calif.;  and grandsons Blake Odell of Temple, Texas, Tyler Odell of Blanchard, Okla. Cody Odell of Moore, Okla., Jack Odell of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Liam Odell of Frisco, Texas, and several great grandchildren.

JR is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Fannie Woolfolk, and brother Loyce Woolfolk.

Funeral Services were held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the First Baptist Church (413 Harper St.) in Tribune, with Pastor Shanon Schneider presiding. Interment followed at the Greeley County Cemetery.

Public visitation was held at the First Baptist Church, Kansas, 413 Harper St., Tribune, Kansas, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lupus Research Alliance (https://www.lupusresearch.org) or Gary Sinise Foundation (htps://www.GarySiniseFoundation.org) are encouraged in honor of JR.

OBITUARIES

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Richard “Rick” Phillip Coupland, Jr.

Richard Phillip Coupland, Jr., lovingly known as Rick, passed away peacefully on July 2, 2026, in Flagstaff, Arizona, at the age of 80. Rick was born on August 25, 1945, in Pueblo, Colorado, to Richard Phillip Coupland and Irma Eileen Coupland (Shacklett). He is survived by... [More]

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Thelma I. Carlson

Thelma Isabel Carlson of Longmont, Colorado passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the age of 97. Thelma arrived at the Ferne and Oscar Carlson home in Tribune on December 16, 1928. She joined two-year-old Selma and one-year-old Velma. In the following two years both John... [More]

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Arla Peter

Arla Peter, age 71, passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Greeley County Hospital in Tribune. She was born on September 17, 1954, in Tribune to Lawrence and Marjorie Woelk Peter. She was a lifelong member of the Tribune community. Surviving family includes her brother... [More]

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Judson P. Price, Sr.

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Becky Lynn Keller

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Shawn Harney

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Don E. Moore

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SPORTS

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Greeley County Fun Run/Walk Results for 2026

Photo caption: Ryleigh Gooch, Jim Myers, Reagan Hahn, Quenton Myers, Jeryn Stewart, and Tenley Stewart were among the 36 runners and walkers taking part in Saturday morning’s Fun Run/Walk.  The Greeley County Cross Country team would like to thank all of the participants... [More]

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Prairie Ridge Golf Course Club Championship held Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26

Photo caption: Mike Mishler, left, won the seniors division in the Club Championship with a 162 weekend total. Monica Slattery, center, was the women’s champion; she shot a 93 for the weekend. AJ Govert, right, was the men’s champion. He shot a 144 for the weekend.... [More]

Fireworks & Fairways results

Editor’s note: I apologize for the delay in sharing these results from the Fourth of July.  On Saturday, July 4, the Prairie Ridge Golf Course hosted a two-person scramble titled Fireworks and Fairways.  Winners were as follows: Championship Flight First... [More]

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Cheerleaders bring home hardware from UCA camp

Photo caption: Lorilai Zerr, Britney Helpingstine, and Annaleigh Long flash their various trophies and medals after last week’s UCA Camp in Sterling. Photo by Bailey Talbott. The Greeley County High School Cheerleaders attended a Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA)... [More]

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Lady Jackrabbits change style of play during summer competitions

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Slattery hits hole in one

Jeff Slattery hit his second hole in one on hole two at Prairie Ridge Golf Course at Men’s Night last Thursday evening, July 9. Courtesy photo. 

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Youth Golf

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Adult co-ed softball wraps season

Collin Holmes waits for the pitch on the final night of adult co-ed softball, which was held on Wednesday, July 1. 

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NEWS

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Celebrating 250 Years of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness at the Greeley County Fair

Photo caption: Octavio Vazquez, Sr. drives a loaded Greeley County Eagle around the carnival grounds on Friday, July 31, 2026. Members of the Lobmeyer family are seated in the back with Lisa and Beau Moritz in the next seat foward. Easton Harney sits behind Gloria Miser, Lillith... [More]

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The Greeley County Fair: Friday, July 31, 2026

Photo caption: The top showmen and women from the sheep, goat, swine, and beef shows competed in a Round Robin competition Friday morning. In the front row, from left to right, are Brecken Nelson, Senior Grand Champion; Julia Hopkins, Senior Reserve Champion; Brooklyn Clevenger,... [More]

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The Greeley County Fair: Thursday, July 30, 2026

Photo caption: Maverick Moritz and Rhett Reynolds nocked their arrows to shoot at the target at Thursday morning’s 4-H Archery Exhibition. Photo by Charlize Shafer.

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The Greeley County Fair: Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Photo caption: Brecken Nelson visits with the judge about one of her sheep. Brecken was named the grand champion senior showman for both sheep and goats. Photo by Charlize Shafer.  

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The Greeley County Fair: Pre-Fair Activities

Photo caption: Adylee Schneider was named the a grand champion in cake decorating for her spaghetti and meatballs cupcake creation.

Ordinance reminders for City of Tribune residents

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Fair week temperatures remain toasty

Photo caption: Shade was a hot commodity during Saturday morning’s Fair parade. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger. New all-time high record tied Hot days and warm nights were on tap for Greeley County Fair week, with highs in the mid 90s and 100s and lows ranging from 58 to... [More]

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OPINIONS

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From the editor's desk

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FFA isn’t all sows, plows, and cows

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