CRINER, Donald L. (Pete)

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ Wednesday, August 03, 2011 Donald L. “Pete” Criner is the youngest son of Cal and Rowena Criner. He passed away at his home in Congress, Ariz., on Monday, July 25 after a long and difficult illness. Pete, as all his friends called him, had just turned 73 in June. At a very early age he knew that he wanted to be a real cowboy. With his family in his corner, he moved to the West and was fortunate to meet many men whom he called the “real cowboys”. He was able to work with them and competed in rodeos, back when the paydays were small but the joy of placing was great. He found he had a talent for team roping and worked on that really hard. Pete moved to Alaska where his brother helped him connect with work on the North Slope and the Alaska Pipeline, which opened possibilities of new adventures. Salaries were such that a man could be able to get good horses and follow his first love, the cowboy life. He was fortunate to meet and work with men of the same desire, and put together a rodeo company and put on rodeos all over Alaska. He was always happy to help mount a competitor, and encourage the youth that hung around the events and his 4C ranch in the Wasilla/Palmer area. When he retired in 1991, we got a motor home and horse trailer and hit the road for what he considered the best of the West - Wickenburg. We bought land in Congress, and he began to compete with USTRC. He met many folks he had know years before, and was so at home and happy. He got the best horses possible, and often said that he could honestly say he had done everything he ever wanted to do and had competed with many team ropers of like mind. Pete was loved by his family. As his wife, he filled my life and my world and now the emptiness will be huge, though his memory will be with me forever. I am confident he is up in heaven with lots of his old friends, and they are catching up on roping and planning where to compete next. His determination and gentlemanly manner will keep me safe and confident the rest of my life. He was a wonderful husband and partner. Pete was firm about his choices and wanted no crying or wringing of hands. He felt that donations could be made to one’s favorite charity or the Cowboy Crisis Fund. He loved all the events and watched them over and over on the TV. He also didn’t want any funeral services, but to remember him as a real cowboy who loved life and lived it to the very last moment. He wanted all his friends to “cowboy up” and would tell you “see you down the trail.” Arrangements are by David’s Desert Chapel Funeral Home of Wickenburg.