Daisy Marie Wright: 1942—2023
Daisy Marie Graham Wright returned to her Heavenly Father surrounded by family, just a day short of her 81st birthday on Oct. 12, 2023, in Casper, Wyoming.
Daisy was born in Wheatland, Wyoming, on Oct. 13, 1942, to Harold “Roy” and Cleta Graham, the fifth of eight children. After attending Wheatland High School, she married Melvin “Mel” Dale Wright on Dec. 24, 1961. Mel at that time was working for John Bell at the Iron Mountain Ranch.
Following their marriage, the couple moved to Bosler, Wyoming, where they would reside on the Bell Ranch, then the RO Ranch for the next 60 years. On Jan. 21, 2010, Mel passed away; Daisy in 2021 moved to Casper, Wyoming, with Dale and Marcella Wright.
Daisy worked alongside Mel on the ranch raising their four children. She would later work for the University of Wyoming Concessions, popping popcorn for athletic events. With her love of children, Daisy would move on to work in several childcare facilities in the Laramie area, including taking care of her grandchildren. She served 25 years in the Albany County 4-H as a club leader, along with the Albany County CattleWomen organization. The primary children were then served for year by Daisy who was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She was a very loving grandmother, and her home was full of their pictures.
Daisy is preceded in death by her spouse, parents, and siblings. She is survived by her four children: Dale (Marcella) Wright of Casper, Russ Wright of Douglas, Tracy (Don) Wiley of Mapleton, Utah, and Travis (Ranae) Wright of Laramie; also surviving are 10 grandchildren: Darin Skagen, Devin (Tara) Skagen, Adam Hansen, Randy (Morgan) Wright, Blake (Tai) Wright, Kyra (Freddy) Wright, and Tanner Wright, along with Ashley (Kayne) Hoff, Amanda (Justin) Post, and Megan Wiley. She was also survived by six great-grandchildren: Rocky, Riley, Payton, Ruby, Aurora, and Madison.
A public viewing will be Friday, Oct. 20, at Bustard & Jacoby in Casper, Wyoming from 5 to 7 p.m. In addition, a gravesite service will be at the Wheatland Cemetery at 11 a.m. in Wheatland, Wyoming. Sometime in the future a memorial service will be held in Laramie.
George “Allen” Cates: 1929—2023
George Allen Cates, 1929-2023, of Cheyenne, died peacefully on Oct. 14 at Cottonwood Creek in Cheyenne. Allen was born to Noble and Celestine Cates on Sept. 28, 1929, in Gillette, Wyoming.
His folks homesteaded outside Gillette, and he would go on to graduate from Campbell County High School in 1948. Allen would join the U.S. Air Force after his college career was cut short due to the Blizzard of ’49. The Air Force led him to Biloxi, Mississippi, where he met the love of his life, Lydia Ganucheau. They married June 8, 1957, had six children, and eventually settled in Cheyenne after 23 years of service in Air Force.
Following his retirement from the Air Force, Allen spent many years working at Dineen’s in a variety of roles, until he finally retired.
Allen will be remembered as a man of God, devoted husband, dedicated father, loving grandfather, and cherished friend to many. He spent his entire life putting the needs of his wife and family before all else.
Allen is survived by his six children, Maureen (Dave) Florita, Jeanne (Bob) Van Risseghem, Steve Cates, and Kevin (Teryl) Cates, all of Cheyenne, Michael (Shelly) Cates of Windsor Colorado, and Dan (Ann) Cates of Eugene Oregon; as well as 21 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Norbert; and his wife of 65 years, Lydia.
Vigil for the Deceased will be Thursday, 6 p.m., at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel.
Funeral Liturgy will be Saturday, 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral; followed by internment at Olivet Cemetery and reception at the Office Bar and Grill.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Saint Mary’s School Foundation.
To view a live webcast of the Funeral Liturgy, please visit https://stmarycathedral.com/ at 11 MST.
David “Jim” James Roby: 1941—2023
My brother, David James Roby, passed away in the early morning of Oct. 13 after a lengthy battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was born on Nov. 29, 1941, in Sterling, Kansas. He was born to James Wesley and Estelle Madeline Roby.
Due to long-term medical illness of his mother and the loss of his father, he was raised by a loving family, Milo C. and Ethel G. Adams.
David worked at the Boulder Sanitarium for several years before moving to the East Coast, where he attended chef/bakers schooling in Boston, Massachusetts.
Growing up years were spent on his uncle’s farm where he was a self-taught mechanic. He used that to help others with his mechanical ability. He had a self-employed flooring business that he did on his days off and after work.
He married Alta Lackey on June 11, 1961, and was married for 62 years.
He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
He is survived by his wife Alta, two sons Randy and Tracy Roby, and sister, Margaret Olson of Lincoln, Nebraska, three nieces Alethea Torbert, Marlene Shafer, and Deborah Cooley, one granddaughter Tina Whitty and numerous other nieces and nephews.
David was preceded in death by his parents, foster parents and will be missed by his host of friends.
There will be a memorial service at Seventh-day Adventist Church 723 Storey Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009, on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, at 2 p.m. Interment will take place at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens 4701 Christensen Road on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, at 9 a.m.
Kelly Owen Merrill: 1961—2023
Kelly Owen Merrill, 62, of Cheyenne, passed at home with his adoring wife at his side on Oct. 12, 2023. He was born on Oct. 1,1961, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Santy and Nellie (Weeks) Merrill.
On Dec. 25, 2012, Kelly married the love of his life, Sandra, in Lawton, Oklahoma, during a blizzard.
Kelly loved to fish and camp any time of the year. His dogs were his partners in crime and went everywhere with him, they were his literal road dogs. Kelly drove trucks most of his life, working for Crete Carrier, Transport Designs, Fry Miller, KLLM and Martin Transport.
He is survived by his wife, Sandra; sister, Kay Pickering; children, Jason Curran, Joel Merrill, Joshua Merrill; stepchildren, Andrew Cloud, Sarah Cloud, Dottie Beaumont, Marcus Hill, Shawn Hill; grandchildren, Andrew Curran, Makenzie Curran, Lily Curran, and Gianna Merrill; great-grandchildren, Marlee and Jesse; step-grandchildren, Lucas Cloud, Caleb Cloud, Isaiah Beaumont, Savannah Beaumont, Angle Lopez, Destiny Lopez, Keyleeana Farley, Hunter Farley, Talon Farley, Amara Hill, Caden Hill, Savanna Hill, Kilyee Hill, Marcus Hill, Jr., Audrey Hill, Emery Hill, Mayamus Hill, Asher Hill, and Miles Hill; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
Kelly was preceded in death by his, parents; sister, Kathy; brother, Kenny; daughter, Sarah; and stepson, James Cloud; and friends, Floyd, Craig, and Madilyn.
Family would love to thank the CRMC Home Health and Davis Hospice Nurses for their kindness and compassion in this hard time. They all have taken time out of they personal lives to care for me and my family. They all have gone above and beyond.
