I read somewhere that Wyatt Earp married a Jewish woman. Did he ever convert to Judaism?

W. Farner
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

It’s believed that Wyatt met Josephine Sarah Marcus in Tombstone. The two fell in love and remained together until his death in 1929. Josie later claimed that they were wed on a boat ride to Catalina Island in southern California, but no official record was ever found. Earp biographers think she made up the story, being a bit embarrassed over their common law status. When Wyatt died, his body was cremated and his remains buried in a Jewish cemetery in Colma, California, near San Francisco, where Josie’s family had a plot. After his death, stories circulated that Wyatt had converted. But there’s no record of it, so most experts don’t believe the claim.

Marshall Trimble is Arizona’s official historian. His latest book is Wyatt Earp: Showdown at Tombstone. If you have a question, write: Ask the Marshall, P.O. Box 8008, Cave Creek, AZ 85327 or e-mail him at marshall.trimble@sccmail.maricopa.edu