Burt A. Pendergrass

Sheridan resident Burt A. Pendergrass, 61, died July 19, 2008, of natural causes while camping in the Big Horn Mountains. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Champion Ferries Funereal Home with the Rev. Don Derryberry officiating. Born April 1, 1947, in El Campo, Texas, to Carl and Bell (Lenz) Pendergrass, he grew up in El Campo and graduated from El Campo High School in 1965. He enlisted in the Army in July 1966 and retired in May 1986. He served four tours in Vietnam and received the Purple Heart, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star, the Republic of Vietnam Parachute Badge, and the Republic of Vietnam Ranger Badge. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal "Valor" First Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal "Valor" First Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Non-Commissioned Officer Parachute Badge. He was an Instructor of Special Forces at Fort Bragg, N.C., a member of First Special Forces Group, Okinawa, Escort Officer Operation Homecoming (POWs) senior tactical instructor, 3rd Army, NCO Academy, Operations Sergeant Headquarters Command and Fort Jackson, S.C., operations sergeant, U.S. Readiness Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., and operations sergeant, 24th Infantry Division at Stewart, Ga. He received an associate degree in economics in 1981 and a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1982 from the University of Tampa (Fla.). He had a second career with the Anchorage Police Department in Alaska from May 1986 to February 2003. He was a detective and was assigned to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. He was the senior police officer, K-9 Unit officer and handler, treasurer of the Police Union, Federal DWI Enforcement, Traffic Fatality, Investigation and Court Security officer. He was a precinct committeeman for the Republican Party, a Sheridan County Fair volunteer, past board member of the Anchorage Police Employees Association and the Army Promotion Board, and past member of the Army Court Martial Board. He married Kathleen Schaechterle on Aug. 16, 1997 in Anchorage. He is survived by his wife; sons Steve Allerd of Reno, Nev., and Billy Schaechterle of Bozeman, Mont.,; daughters Rachael and Casey Pendergrass, both of Anchorage; his mother, Belle Matthews of El Campo; brother Carl Pendergrass of Del Rio, Texas; sisters Sue Pendergrass of Houston and Patsy Pendergrass of El Campo; and two grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Sheridan Police Department's K-9 Unit, 45 W. 12th St., Sheridan, WY 82801.