This week’s Wyoming obituaries

Find more information from Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes.

Find more information from Newcomer Casper.

Find more information from Newcomer Casper.

He moved to Kemmerer, Wyoming in his early teens, and made it his home for over 40 years before moving to Laramie, Wyoming, where he spent the last 10 years of his life.

If there is one thing Nate will always be remembered for, it is how good he was at making people feel special, seen, and accepted for exactly who they were, without judgement. It didn’t matter who you were, where you came from, what you believed, or what kind of life you lived, Nate never judged anyone for being themselves, and he didn’t spend his own life worrying about what other people thought of him either. He was unapologetically himself, even if that meant being different from everyone around him.

He lived life on his own terms and accepted other people in the same way.

The other thing most people will always love about Nate is that he was funny – REALLY funny. He could make anyone laugh, no matter their age, background, or personality. He had a sharp wit and a wonderfully irreverent, unfiltered, and unique sense of humor. He was always looking for an opportunity to stir up a little trouble just to get a reaction. He had a special way of making kids laugh, and Grandma Kay’s daycare gave him plenty of opportunity to do just that.

“Uncle Nate,” as all the daycare kids affectionately knew him, would show up without warning, terrorize the kids, get them riled up and laughing hysterically, and make poor Grandma Kay go crazy and kick him out for bad behavior. If there was one thing you could count on with Nate around, it was plenty of laughter.

Nate had a lot of passions in life, but anyone that knew him knew guns were at the top of the list. He absolutely loved guns. He knew just about everything there was to know about them and loved shooting them (i.e., blowing stuff up!), working on them, buying them, and bonding over them with his closest friends. It was a huge part of who he was, and everybody knew Nate as the gun guy.

Nate was also an incredible and naturally talented artist. During his years in Kemmerer, he created artwork for many people, airbrushing motorcycle helmets and snowmobile hoods; painting signs for local businesses; and even designing headstones for friends and family. His artwork can still be seen throughout Kemmerer and will continue to bring joy to the many people who are fortunate enough to have a piece of it.

Another one of Nate’s passions in life was history. As a self-declared history nerd, Nate would spend much of his time watching documentaries, the history channel, reading books, and just learning as much as he possibly could about the past, especially if it was military history. He loved visiting military museums and would often know more about the artifacts in the museum than the people working there. Dragging him away from a conversation about fighter jets or aircraft carriers was nearly impossible.

Nate’s passion for weapons, the military, history, and art all came together in his favorite pastime – building models. A hobby he picked up as a teenager, he spent the rest of his life honing his skill and creating incredible works of art. His children will remember spending hours with him wandering through hobby shops or watching him at his modeling desk in the deepest concentration as he put together exact replicas of his favorite cars, fighter jets, and tanks.

He put his heart and soul into every model he built and was proud to show off each finished piece.

And then there was the music. Nate was a huge fan of rock and heavy metal music, and his love for the genre was infectious. Tool was his favorite band, and if you knew Nate, you knew that you had better like Tool. One of his favorite questions to ask anyone who came around was “Do you like Tool?” and if the answer was no or they didn’t know who Tool was, he would act like he was personally offended in a way that was unmistakably Nate and then put on a Tool song and make you listen to the entire thing.

If you were going to spend time around him, you had better learn to appreciate Tool.

Sharing his love for music was one of his favorite things to do. Nate and his big brown station wagon were responsible for taking an entire generation of Kemmerer teenagers to rock concerts. He would load up the car with his own kids and as many of their rock-loving friends as they could fit and would drive them to Salt Lake City, make sure they were safe, and rock hard with them all night long. For many, including his own children, his passion for rocking out was a gift that will stay with them forever.

As much as Nate loved his hobbies and interests, however, there was nothing he loved more than his family. He was a caring and devoted father who loved his children unconditionally. No matter what life threw at them, or what they might have put him through along the way, he was there, and he loved and supported them through it all. His children will find comfort in knowing that not a day went by that their father didn’t think of them and love them with everything he had.

His love for his grandchildren was just as strong. He absolutely loved being a grandpa and found true joy in spending time with his grandchildren, corrupting their minds as he would always say. They loved listening to his “old man stories,” laughing endlessly at his jokes, and playing with his big floppy ears. He had a special place in his heart for each of them, and they all knew just how much he loved them.

Nate was also incredibly close to his own father, Mark, and some of his most meaningful memories were made alongside him riding horses, branding cows, working on leather, fixing things, and fighting about who had whose tools. Their bond was strong and lasted a lifetime. Losing his dad was one of the hardest things Nate ever experienced, and there is comfort in knowing that he gets to be with his father again.

Nate was truly one of a kind in the best ways possible and will be missed beyond measure by the many people whose lives he touched.

He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Scucchi of San Diego, CA; sons, Justin (Kelly) Layland of Lehi, UT and Jordan (Tera) Layland of Evanston, WY; six grandchildren, Jonathon, Matthew, Sydney, Abigail, Degan, and Erin; two great grandchildren, Archer and Birdie; sister Leslie Hayes; stepmother Kay Layland; step-siblings Loyde Cobb, Jacquie Louie, and Mike Cobb; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He is preceded in death by parents Marquis Layland and Alice Lucille Nate Layland.

A celebration of Nate’s life will be held at the Kemmerer Stake Center cultural hall November 14, 2026, at 11:00am. This will be an informal gathering to share stories and reminisce about all the laughter, fun, chaos, mischief, and love he gave us all and celebrate Nate in a way that is true to who he was.

He will be laid to rest with his wife and parents at the cemetery in Shoshoni, Wyoming. Ballard Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Billy J. Pape, 93, of Pinedale, Wyoming passed away peacefully October 22, 2026 with his family at his side. A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday October 28th at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Pinedale. The Rosary-Vigil will be held the evening prior, October 27th at 6:00 p.m. at the church. Interment & military honors will follow the services in the Pinedale Cemetery. A full obituary will follow shortly.   

Richard’s funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 24th, 2026, at the Albin Community Center in Albin, WY. Interment will follow at Albin Cemetery. A reception will follow with a light lunch at the Albin Community Center. Schrader Aragon& Jacobey Funeral Home in Cheyenne, WY is in charge of the services. It is respectfully requested that in lieu of any flowers, memorials be made in Rich’s honor to the Albin Community food service program or Grace Lutheran Church in Pine Bluffs WY.

Rich rode his horse to a country school until the 7th grade when he transferred to the Albin Schools. He met the love of his life Louise E Clark his senior year. They were married in May of 1956, 70 years ago. Rich was a dry land farmer and raised cattle his entire life. In his later years he drove school buses for the Albin, and Banner County schools. He later worked full time for the Banner County Road Department until he retired in 2005.

Rich has 5 daughters Karen (Jim) Larson, Janet (Lon) Johnson, Gayle Person, Cheryl Dady, Lesli (Ken) Fitzgerald.

In 1960 Rich was baptized and confirmed into the Grace Lutheran Church where he remained as an active member. He served as the Sunday School Superintendent, and Church Elder for many years.

Rich worked hard 7 days a week, 365 days a year, rarely taking a day off for leisure. He was a faithful husband, dedicated dad and a loving grandpa.

Rich is survived by his wife Louise, 5 daughters, 12 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and sister JoAnn Taylor, brother-in-law Richard Clark, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter Susan, an infant brother, and brother Charles, numerous in-laws, aunts and uncles and cousins.

Rich was a man with a huge heart and fun sense of humor. His love for his family can’t ever be replaced.

We would like to thank everyone for their prayers. Also, to the staff at Emerald Court for being so amazing with the care and compassion you provided to him, we are forever grateful.

In Loving Memory of Gerald Milton “Gary” Ricley

Born November 14, 1946, in Denver, Colorado, to Arthur Morgan and Pauline Rose Ricley, Gary was a man of remarkable ingenuity, unwavering determination, deep faith, and an unforgettable sense of humor. He knew how to get things done but never believed life should be taken too seriously.

If asked, Gary would say his greatest accomplishment was the family and life he built with his beloved wife, Karen Sue. They met in 1964, and married after two years of courtship, going on to spend 50 years together. They raised four children and created a life rich in love, laughter, and unforgettable memories.

Summers meant weeks of boating, winters brought family ski trips, and he continually prioritized creating memories through family vacations, hunting adventures, late-night card games, and time spent together filled the years. Gary especially loved deer and elk hunting and believed life’s greatest adventures were even better when shared with family and friends, even including his mom on a trip to Hawaii.

Gary’s professional accomplishments were extraordinary. Beginning his career as a mechanic, he worked his way through the ranks of General Motors to become an executive, retiring at just 52 years old. He possessed the mind of an engineer, a natural gift for problem solving, and a work ethic that he used to be successful across several endeavors, both personally and professionally.

Retirement was hardly the end of Gary’s working years. For more than 30 years, he enjoyed a successful ranching and cattle operation on his rolling Wyoming ranch. Alongside his beloved pet horses, chickens, and cattle, Gary and Karen took great pride in caring for the land and creating a haven for wildlife. Their dedication to wildlife habitat improvements earned them the honor of 2011 Landowners of the Year, a recognition of their commitment to conservation and stewardship.

They also welcomed walk-in pheasant hunting on their property, sharing their appreciation for the land and outdoors with others. The ranch became another chapter in a life defined by hard work, ingenuity, and a deep appreciation for nature.

Wonderfully nostalgic, he loved sharing stories from his colorful life, often telling the same favorites again and again. His family could frequently recite them right along with him, but his enthusiasm and familiar punchlines were part of what made him so endearing. Those stories, and the laughter that accompanied them, became treasured family traditions.

His faith in and love for the Lord were central to his life, providing strength and comfort throughout every season. The passing of Karen eleven years ago profoundly changed Gary’s world. After a lifetime together, navigating life without her was never quite the same.

In his later years, Gary faced the challenges of dementia, particularly difficult for a man who had always proudly described his memory as a “steel trap.” Though the disease gradually changed his world, it never erased the man his family loved. When comfortable and at ease, his familiar humor and quick wit still shone through, offering precious glimpses of the storyteller and jokester everyone knew.

Gary lived a full and vibrant life. He worked hard, loved deeply, laughed often, and filled his years with experiences worth remembering. His greatest legacy isn’t measured by professional titles, cattle raised, or places traveled, but by the family he cherished, and the memories he leaves behind.

Gary was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Karen Sue; cherished granddaughter, Elizabeth Rose Dimzoff; parents, Arthur Morgan and Pauline Rose Ricley; and brother, Ronald Arthur Ricley.

He is survived by his four children, Ronda Dimzoff of Frederick, Colorado; Terry Ricley of Burlingame, Kansas; and David Ricley and Sheila Ricley, both of Cheyenne, Wyoming; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends.

And though Gary may have told the same stories a hundred times, his family would give anything to hear him tell them just once more.

Rest peacefully, Gary. A life well lived, a job well done, and a lifetime of stories left for us to tell.

A celebration of Gary’s life will be held Friday, November 6, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Lakeview Chapel at Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home, 2222 Russell Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming. [Reception details to be added.]

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Find more information at Newcomer Casper.

Find more information at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes.

Find more information at Newcomer Casper.