Tamara Jo Anderson: November 19, 1958 – March 10, 2023
Tamara Jo Anderson, of Cheyenne, passed at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on November 19, 1958 in Lakeworth, FL to Earl and Betty Dossey of Texarkana, AR.
Tamara was a avid gardener, lover of nature and music and doting wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She enjoyed reading books to help get through the long Wyoming winters.
Tamara and James Anderson shared 49 years of laughter, love and life. Her career spanned 40 years in the medical and dental fields. Preceding her retirement, she enjoyed most the abstraction of medical records for University of Colorado Health. Tamara loved animals for all of her life and leaves behind her dogs Bo, Sister and Doug.
She is survived by her husband James R. Anderson, Mother Betty Dossey (Earl), daughter Ashley Hollifield (Joe), sons Kamon Quinn and Bobby Anderson. Daughter in law Jan Blare (Steve) Sisters Billenda Heymeyer (Mark) and Rebecca Porras. Grand daughters Stephenie Anderson, Sadie Hollifield, Payden and Ellie Anderson, Aspyn and Jadyn Blare, Gemini Mathew and Adelina Anderson. Grandsons Hunter Hollifield and Aidan Anderson. Great- Granddaughter Paisley Anderson. In laws Allyn Anderson (Mary), John Anderson (Linda) Gunnar Anderson (Cheryl) Joan Wilford, Janet Anderson and Patricia Anderson.
Tamara was preceded in death by her son Stephen Earl Anderson, father Earl Dossey, sister Elizabeth Dossey, and daughter in law Jodi Anderson. In Laws R.W and Arlene Anderson, Bill Anderson, Suds Anderson, Larry Wilford and Stephen Curtis Anderson.
Services will be held at Weiderspahn Radomsky at 1900 E. 19th St. Cheyenne, WY 82001 on Saturday March 18th 2023 at 2:00 PM.
Carol Rutgers: December 22, 1930 – March 9, 2023
Carol Fay Rutgers MD, 92, passed away peacefully at her residence in Cheyenne, WY on March 9, 2023 surrounded by her three children, after a short battle with cancer. Carol was the first of three children born to William and Johanna Rutgers on December 22, 1930 in Grundy Center, Iowa.
As the daughter of a minister of the Christian Reformed Church, Carol moved with her parents to Cicero, IL with her sister Marilyn. During World War II, Carol remembered living in the minister’s residence, a large house adjacent to the church with a grand ante room and spiral staircase. Her street was lined with families of young soldiers, many of the houses with gold stars in the windows. The family moved to Grand Rapids, MI, where her brother Bill was born, and where she attended Timothy Christian Elementary for grade 1 to 8, and then Grand Rapids Christian High School. Carol was named “All American Girl” in her yearbook, was active in many school clubs and named Valedictorian of her senior year in 1948. Carol enjoyed spending summers on the shores of Lake Michigan in Holland, MI with her family. Carol attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids graduating in 1952.
Carol aimed to work as a phlebotomist after college, but also had ambitions of attending medical school. One morning her father drove her to the University of Chicago where she filled out an application, and drove back home. The next morning she was asked to return for an interview and was later accepted into the medical school. Graduating in 1959, Carol started an internship at the University of Chicago Hospital in 1959. In 1960, Carol moved to New York to begin a residency at Columbia University, specializing in pathology. There she met John Grant Gorman, an Australian resident with a similar affinity for New York City. They attended hematology conferences together and began a romance which resulted in their marriage in 1965. John and Carol’s honeymoon to Australia included a research trip to New Guinea to study blood types and malaria, where she took blood samples and managed test data. Carol continued to support her husband’s research on Rh Disease of the newborn.
Carol had two family successes in 1968, the birth of her first daughter Elizabeth and the approval of RhoGAM, the lifesaving medical breakthrough her husband John had pioneered. With young Elizabeth, children became the next priority; in 1969 she gave birth to John, and in 1970 she gave birth to Alexandra. The young family moved to the 39th floor of an apartment building in midtown Manhattan.
After early child rearing, Carol pursued a residency in ophthalmology at the French and Polyclinic Med School and Health Center. In 1976, Carol separated from her husband but continued to enjoy living in New York City with her children, and made many friends. She moved to an apartment which she loved on East 63rd street, where she lived for the next 44 years becoming a well known and well loved member of her local community. Carol was a talented artist in pencil and watercolor, and enjoyed taking her children to art museums in New York City, and on many day trips around the city. As a keen reader, Carol made lifelong friends through her book club.
Carol was also an avid traveler, and enjoyed taking trips with her children as they grew, meeting them in places around the globe to explore together. She especially enjoyed traveling with her children to her childhood holiday spot, on Lake Michigan with her sister and brother and their families.
Carol always enjoyed staying in touch with all her nieces and nephews: Cathie, Joel, Jerome, Christina, Sunny, Bill and Nick. Carol always made a strong impression on the people she met, and had the talent of being able to engage virtually anyone in conversation using her charm, intellect and sharp sense of humor.
Her final adventure was a move to Cheyenne, WY at the age of 91 to live closer to her daughter Alexandra, son in law Todd, and two grandchildren Eliza and Susanna in December 2022. She enjoyed living at Primrose Assisted Living and appreciated the kind staff there, and will be missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Carol’s behalf to winetowater :https://www.winetowater.org. A memorial service will be held this summer in Grand Rapids, MI.
Deborah J. “Debbie” Cook: July 19, 1953 – March 9, 2023
Deborah “Debbie” Jean Cook (Ridgeway), was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She passed peacfully March 9, 2023 at age 69, surrounded by family.
Debbie was born on July 19, 1953 in Sheridan, Wyoming to Don and Stella Ridgeway. The family moved to Greybull, Wyoming and then settled in Casper, Wyoming where Debbie was raised. She attended Saint Anthony’s Catholic School, East Junior High School and graduated from Kelly Walsh High School in 1971. After graduating high school, Debbie chased her dreams to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and X-ray Technician in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
During college she met her husband, Duane Cook who was stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base. They married in August of 1972 and started a family. They welcomed their first son Jason in 1974, their second son Joshua in 1979, and a few years later they welcomed their daughter Jaclyn in 1982.
Debbie was blessed with a green thumb and could grow anything. She couldn’t think of anything better than being in her garden. She loved the smell of the earth, feeling her hands in the soil and seeing her plants grow. In addition to gardening, Debbie loved to design, cook, and spend time with her family. Debbie and Duane shared forty-nine years together before Duane’s passing. Debbie loved life, her career and her family to the fullest. She and Duane had the home of their dreams, it was their sanctuary to spend time with each other and all their grandbabies.
Debbie is survived by her children: son Jason Cook of Cheyenne; son Joshua Cook of Cheyenne; (grandchildren Baylor and Hanley Cook) daughter Jaclyn Courtney (Ryan) (grandchildren Hayden, Kennedy and Charley) of Loveland Colorado; daughter-in law Sherra St.Clair (Mike) (grandchildren Sam and Aiden) of Laramie, Wyoming; sisters Donna Kane (Jim) of Casper, Wyoming; MaryAnn Cheney (Harvey) of Portland, Oregon; brothers Larry Ridgeway (Tanya) of Casper, Wyoming; Randy Ridgeway of Casper Wyoming; Michael Ridgeway of Casper, Wyoming, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Debbie was predeceased by her husband, Duane Cook, father Donald Ridgeway, mother Stella Ridgeway, and her brother Butch Romeo.
A vigil for Debbie will be Thursday, 6:00 pm at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel. Funeral Liturgy will be Friday, 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Placement of her urn in the columbarium at Cheyenne National Cemetary will follow at 1:00 pm.
Jeanne L. Hicks: May 21, 1943 – March 7, 2023
Jeanne L. Hicks, 79 of Cheyenne died March 7, 2023. Jeanne was born to Darrel and Maryan (Herrick) Monteith on May 21, 1943 in St. Paul, MN.
She enjoyed bluegrass music and attended many festivals with her friend Cara Nelson. She inherited a wonderful stamp collection from her father and enjoyed adding to that collection and attending meetings with the local stamp club. She was passionately involved with the historic Laramie County Search & Rescue Team.
She is survived by her brother James (Anne) Monteith of Maple Grove, MN, sister Sue (Gary) Pettis of Minnetrista, MN; children Kristin (Dale) Roberts of Cheyenne, WY, Shelly (Peter) Escobedo of Tempe, AZ, Cindy (Duffy) Sheller of Cheyenne, WY, step-children Kathy (Bernie) Raidt of Chanhassen, MN, Sandy (Doug) Borne of Cheyenne, WY, Linda (Tom) McDonald of Circle Pines, MN, Barb Johnson and Melissa Schmidtbauer of Eden Prairie, MN. Numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And most exceptionally by her friend Cara Nelson of Hillsdale, WY.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her spouse(s).
A memorial service will be held on March 14, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel.
Robert Allen: January 24, 1937 – March 8, 2023
Robert Allen of Cheyenne, WY. Passed away on March 8, 2023, at Davis Hospice Center. He was born January 24, 1937, in Galatia, Illinois to Robert and Emma Allen. After high school he worked for Catepillar Tractor in Joliet Illinois. At 21 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy servicing aboard the USS Rochester.
In 1961 while visiting his sister in Chicago, Illinois he met Phyllis. They married a year later September 15, 1962. Together they raised two children Robert and Gayle. Robert transferred to the U.S. Navy TAR Service where he completed his 20 years being stationed in Pueblo, CO., Charleston South Carolina and Kansas City, Missouri.
After retiring from the Navy Robert moved his family to Canon City Colorado in 1978 and worked for the Colorado in 1978 and worked for the Colorado Department of Corrections until he retired in 1994. In his final years he lived in Cheyenne Wy with his wife and children.
Robert is a 52-year member of Silver State AF&AM Masonic Lodge #95 and a 29-year member of Al Kaly Shriners in Pueblo, Colorado. Robert loved hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, going to Cripple Creek, CO. to play video poker and driving his classic cars in parades with the Shriners.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Emma Allen, brothers James and Marvin and sisters Pearl Allen, Bernadine Gent, and Imogene Monnette. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Phyllis, son Robert, Daughter Gayle and son-in-law William Ross, Grandson Christopher and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at Schrader Funeral Home with military and Masonic honors. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children c/o Al Kaly Shriners P.O. Box 193 Pueblo, CO. 81002.
