Audrey Branney: 1929 – 2023
Audrey Lee Branney passed away quietly in Cheyenne on November 13, 2023.
She was born Audrey Lee Long in Casper, Wyoming on July 10, 1929, thirty-nine years after the birthday of her beloved State of Wyoming. Her parents were Frank Long and Corinne Frederick. Audrey married Fred G. Branney on December 10, 1947. They were happily married for nearly 37 years.
During their marriage, Fred and Audrey owned and operated two successful Wyoming businesses. While on a camping and fishing trip in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming with Audrey, Fred passed away on August 15, 1984.
Three children survive Fred and Audrey: Barbara Lee Austin and Beth Ann Miller, both of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and John Bradford Branney of Masonville, Colorado. Fred and Audrey have six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren to pass along their legacy. Preceding Audrey in death were her husband Fred; her parents; and brothers, Frank J. Long of Casper, Wyoming, and Robert F. Long of Fresno, California.
Second only to her family was Audrey’s love for Wyoming and its people. She cherished her state. She was born in Wyoming where she lived most of her life. Audrey’s greatest hope was reuniting with Fred in heaven and that heaven was exactly like Wyoming. Audrey chose not to have a memorial service, but instead asked everyone who knew her to say a kind prayer for her family and America. Audrey and Fred rest in Christ’s love at the Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery near Evansville, Wyoming.
James Alan Crecelius: 1960 – 2023
James Alan Crecelius, 63, of Cheyenne, died on November 10, 2023 in Cheyenne.
He was born on January 15, 1960, in Hobbs, New Mexico.
James was an avid golfer and enjoyed spending time with his friends. James hated being stuck in the house and was always trying to find something to do with his free time. James volunteered for Cheyenne Frontier Days for many years of his life. James found great enjoyment in joining social groups and being a part of a team.
He is survived by his brother, Tony Crecelius; his sisters, Cindy Davis and Julie Henderson; his two sons, Michael Crecelius and Cody Crecelius; and his grandson, Cayden Crecelius.
James was preceded in death by his mother, Carolyn Schumacher.
James will be greatly missed by his entire family.
Mildred Loree Larsen: 1933 – 2023
Mildred Loree Larsen, 89, of Cheyenne, died on November 10, 2023 in Cheyenne.
She was born on November 29, 1933 in Wheatland, Wyoming.
Mildred was a receptionist in medical offices in Columbia, Maryland, and Port Huron, Michigan. She enjoyed her flower gardens, baking, and being with family.
She is survived by her son, James (Connie) Larsen of Kenosha, Wisconsin and Ona, West Virginia; daughter, Laura (Carl) Hallberg; granddaughters: Jillian Elrod of Ona, West Virginia, Jennifer Elrod of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Clara Hallberg of Flagstaff, Arizona; and great-grandson, Isaac Zahra of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Larsen; parents, Frank and Violet Scott; and siblings, James (Ethel) Scott and Grace Scott.
Marvin “Marvelous Marv” McNally: 1929 – 2023
Marvin “Marvelous Marv” McNally joined the Kingdom of our Lord on Sunday November 12, 2023.
Marvin was born to Lloyd William and Mary Nettie (nee Landes) McNally on December 28, 1936, in Wasilla, Alaska. Delivered by a doctor who arrived by dog sled, snowshoe and snowplow.
Marvin’s family lived in several different states including Colorado and California eventually settling down in Waverly, Colorado.
Marvin graduated from Cache La Poudre High School in La Porte. Colorado in 1955. He studied Dairy Production while attending Colorado State University. He met the love of his life at a dance at Colorado State University, Christine Anne Sherwood. The couple were married June 2, 1962. The couple lived on the dairy farm in Waverly, Colorado, named Windy Hill Dairy. They began a family while living on the Waverly farm. and raised the heifers who would join the milking herd. They also began breeding American Quarter Horses. They also grew alfalfa hay and corn to feed the cattle and horses. While in Carpenter he was very involved in the community, as one of the Leaders to a 4-H Club – The Better Producers. He also bowled on a league at the Herford, Colorado Bowling Alley.
He was an avid fan of the Denver Broncos dating back to the team’s inception and held season tickets for many years. He attended home games regularly. He loved watching Fox News and particularly enjoyed watching Maria Bartiromo, The Five and Hannity.
In 1982 Marvin, Chris and their four daughters moved from the farm in Carpenter to Cheyenne, Wyoming where he began an in-ground sprinkler service called Phoenix Services. He put in ground home sprinkler systems until 1983 when he obtained his Real Estate License and sold Real Estate, specializing in HUD and VA properties until his retirement in March of 2022.
Marvin met his second wife Guin (nee Thrower) Kuskie. The couple fell in love and were married on December 14, 1991. The couple lived in Cheyenne and Marvin shared in the raising of their granddaughter Kara (nee Kuskie) Wiganowsky. They enjoyed almost 27 years married of life. Guin was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and passed away in October 2017.
Marvin was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome in March of 2022. Marvin when through treatment at Anschutz Cancer Center in Aurora, Colorado and Cheyenne Regional Cancer Center until January 2023. In March of 2023, Marvin went to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas where he received a second opinion and his diagnosis changed to Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He was attended to by his family while in Houston to take care of his needs while he received treated for his new diagnosis. In October, his Oncology team, Marvin and his family realized that treatment was no longer effective, and he was placed on palliative care and traveled back to Cheyenne Wyoming. He continued palliative care until early November when he was placed on hospice and transferred to Davis Hospice Center. Marvin was surrounded by his daughters during his time on hospice and visited by several good friends. Marvin passed away peacefully on November 12, 2023.
Marvin is survived by his sister, Willa Kay Stark; Robert Lloyd McNally; daughters: Mary Kembel (Steve), Noelle Williams (Curt), Susan “Susie” Copeland (Paul), Leah Rose Scoville (Tony); twelve grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren with one more due in March of 2024.
He was preceded in death his first wife, Chris McNally; grandson, Skyler Williams; mother, Mary Nettie (Landes) McNally; father, Lloyd William McNally and second wife, Guin McNally; and numerous aunts; uncles;f and cousins.
Visitation will be held on Thursday November 16, 2023, at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The funeral will be Friday November 17, 2023, starting 10:00 a.m. at Calvary Chapel at 9209 Ridge Road Cheyenne, Wyoming. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society , Calvary Chapel in Cheyenne, Wyoming, or F.O.R.C.E. (facingourrisk.org).
The family would like to thank everyone who supported, prayed and cared for Marvin during his illness. They also appreciate the continued support and compassion they continue to receive. “May God Bless You and Keep You Always Well” ~ Lloyd McNally.
Theodore Grant “Ted” Shelley: 1937 – 2023
Theodore Grant “Ted” Shelley, 86, of Cheyenne passed away the morning of November 11, 2023.
He was born on September 6, 1937 to Harald Keith Shelley and Iva Grace Shelley in Cumberland, Maryland.
He grew up on the east coast and, as a young man, joined the U.S. Navy serving on a battleship in the Pacific.
He had several jobs and got his job with Boeing in Seatlle and joined the missile patch in Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
He loved the west for hunting and enjoyed hunting in Jackson Hole for many years. He also enjoyed helping the neighbors, Howard and Christopher Johnson, on their race cars and any project anybody would bring for his help. For years he ran an electronic shop called Flying S Communications and helped dig ditches for sewer and water for local neighbors.
He built his own house in Cheyenne and married Jo Shelley in January of 1970. Together they raised a blended family of five daughters.
In retirement, he enjoyed the many projects that kept him busy but in later years he suffered from dementia that slowed him down.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his daughters, Teddi Jo Shelley and Pamela Jo Moneypenny.
He is survived by his brothers: Keith Shelley (Helen) of Pennsylvania, Jack Shelley (Heidi) of Tallahassee, Florida, and James Shelley of Tequesta, Florida; his daughters: Peggy Eckert (Rob) of Kadoka, South Dakota, Valerie Shelley of Corvalis, Oregon, and Brenda DeJersey (Ken) of Cheyenne; grandchildren: Anthony Fisher (Kinsey) of Temple, Texas, Sabrina Granum (Bill) of Sheridan, Wyoming, and Grant Befus (Chrissy) of Illif, Colorado; great-grandchildren: Sydney, Emma, and Jackson of Temple, Texas, Chloe, Liam and Aiden of Sheridan, and Cutter and Kirby of Iliff; special nephew, Greg Shelley (Kelly) of Tallahassee, Florida; and a special friend, Pat Merritt of the Honduras, whom he thought of as the son he never had.
Ted was a very talented man that could do just about anything and would try until he figured it out.
Services will be Thursday, 2:00 p.m., at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel with a reception to follow at The Gathering Place.
