Eugene Todd

The Rev. Eugene F. Todd, Rector Emeritus of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Cheyenne, passed away on August 23, 2014 at his home in Cheyenne surrounded by his loving family. Eugene was born in 1928 in Sheridan, Wyoming - the fifth of seven children born to Fred and Gladys Todd. In 1953 he married Shirley Hall in Buffalo, Wyoming. They became the parents of three children, two daughters Lorilee and Sheridan, and one son Barry. In 1975 Eugene married Rosemary Fleming Adamson. Rosemary is the mother of three daughters, Mary, Rebecca and Kimberly. Eugene grew up on the family cattle ranch on Piney Creek where he attended rural country schools in Ucross and Clearmont, Wyoming before his admission to the University of Denver, earning his BA degree in 1951. He then attended the Iliff School of Theology, in Denver, earning a Master of Theology in 1954. In 1955, Eugene accepted a call as chaplain at the University of South Dakota where he earned a M.A degree in pursuit of a doctorate in history. Eugene was ordained into the Episcopal priesthood in 1962 by Wyoming Bishop J. Wilson Hunter in Green River where he served as rector of St. John's Church. While at Green River, Eugene volunteered to conduct Sunday evening worship services for the families of engineers and construction workers building the massive Flaming Gorge Dam. In the fall of 1965, Eugene was called to become rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Cheyenne to which he dedicated the next 27 years of his life and ministry. In 2001, Eugene was awarded the honorary title as Rector Emeritus of St. Mark's Church. Eugene was instrumental in completing numerous projects of major external construction and interior renovation including the design and installation of the first columbarium (cremation cemetery) in the state of Wyoming. At the time of his death, Eugene was actively involved in the Historic St. Mark's Bell Project by helping to remove the bell from the tower to be put on public display. It is the first church bell in the Wyoming Territory donated in 1872 by St. Mark's Philadelphia. Eugene originally organized COMEA and for 18 years presided over its cooperative ministry of emergency services for the homeless, bringing together most of the churches in Cheyenne into this united effort. He also helped spearhead the development of the hospice program in Cheyenne. Eugene wrote two books on the Todd family history. "Recollections of a Piney Creek Rancher" was about his father first coming west as a Wyoming cowboy in 1901 and establishing the family cattle ranch on Piney Creek. "The Todd Legacy" described the Todd migration from Scotland to America, which included the family of Mary Todd Lincoln. His major writing achievement was in 1997 with the publication of a hardbound edition "Tales & Irreverencies of a Country Parson". Eugene was the last survivor of the original Todd family. He was preceded in death by all six of his siblings four brothers; George, Luther, Roger, Lewis and two sisters; Edna Fay and Sadie Dexter, infant son Jonathan, and a grandson Riley Voycheske Eugene is survived by his loving wife Rosemary; three children Lorilee, Barry and Sheridan and three step-children Mary, Rebecca and Kimberly. Together the Todd's are grandparents to 16 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Fr. Todd's family invites everyone to Visitation and Viewing from 4 to 7 pm on Tuesday August 26th at St. Mark's Episcopal Church with a prayer service at 6:45. A Celebration of Life Service will be held the next morning, Wednesday August 27th at 11 o'clock at St. Marks. There will be a private family internment into the columbarium. The Reverend Rick Veit will be presiding the services. The preacher will be Fr. David Stahl, a Roman Catholic priest from Colorado, who Eugene originally prepared for Holy Confirmation into the Episcopal Church. Friends may contribute to St. Mark's Capital Campaign or COMEA.

Service

Wednesday, August 27, 2014 11:00am

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

1908 Central

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Visitation

Tuesday, August 26, 2014 4:00pm - 7:00pm

St. Mark's Guild Room

Cheyenne

CHEYENNE, WY 82001