Donna Dimick: 1939 – 2024
We regretfully announce the passing of our beloved Donna Ruth Dimick (West) of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Donna died peacefully at home March 29, 2024, surrounded by her family. Her home was full of love and laughter, just how she enjoyed it.
The youngest of three children, Donna was born June 26, 1939, in Kermit, Texas to Mary and Deen West. She had a happy childhood, learning compassion and love for others from a very young age. She traveled with her family through much of her adolescence, contributing to their closeness as a unit. Her big brothers were her fiercest protectors and she beamed when sharing stories about them.
In 1958, Donna attended Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish, South Dakota. During a summer class she met her future husband, Jack Dimick. He knew she was “the one” almost immediately and they were married before the end of the year. Together they enjoyed nearly 60 years of making memories. He said she made him a better man because he had to elevate himself to her worthiness. They made a beautiful team and successfully filled their home to the seams with grateful children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Being a mom and granny were some of the most important roles of Donna’s life. She was always there for us, whether we needed help with homework, practical advice, or a shoulder to cry on. She was her family’s proudest cheerleader and supporter. A woman of strong values, she instilled in us the importance of family, hard work, and doing what is right. Our mother was a true role model, and we will always look up to her.
Donna was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1967. She credited this as a major reason for her happiness. She valued her faith and personal relationship with God above all else. The resulting inner peace and wisdom gave her the strength to navigate any difficulties she encountered with dignity, grace, and a positive attitude. She exchanged encouragement with a great many friends over the years and always looked for the good in others. She enjoyed sharing her faith in the Bible with those she met. She was a wonderful example of a loving follower of Christ.
Donna was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brother, William West; son, Thomas Dimick; granddaughter, Cristina Dimick; and great-grandchildren Jack & Claire Oberg.
She is survived by her daughters: Cristine Grant (Logan), Jennifer Kelley (Alfred Melazzi), Rebecca Grant (Darrell) and Holly McFaul (Jared); brother, Robert West (Darlene), 16 grandchildren and 10 more through marriage; 14 (soon to be 15) great-grandchildren; uncle, Ed Harrelson; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; her chosen and shared children, Chris and Marilyn Foster, Mark and Brenda Flath, and Oralia Neemann; her spiritual brothers and sisters; and more friends than she could’ve ever imagined.
Donna was one of the strongest and kindest women to ever walk this earth and we were blessed to have her at our core. She will be deeply and continually missed by those whose lives she touched.
There will be a memorial service honoring Donna’s memory April 20 at 10:00 a.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses (3422 N. College Drive) in Cheyenne. Reception will follow. To join the service online through Zoom, please use the following link or meeting information:
Zoom meeting:
Topic: Donna Dimick Memorial Service
Time: Apr 20, 2024 10:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84590123710?pwd=J1A4XkbmSQ76hVOpbDd9bbkaHNU8ae.1
Meeting ID: 845 9012 3710
Passcode: Donna
Sheryl M. Fanning: 1943 – 2024
Sheryl M. Fanning, 80, of Cheyenne, passed on March 30, 2024, at Davis Hospice Center, surrounded by her loving family.
She approached life with irrepressible positivity, humor, kindness, and faith—starting each day with a radiant smile and usually a song. She was a social butterfly, making friends everywhere she went and feeling at home almost anywhere, from international travels to the homestead and ranch where she grew up in Rye, Colorado.
She was born on July 3 in Pueblo, Colorado and graduated from Rye High School with a class of 13. She went on to earn a degree in Elementary Education at Adams State College and then completed a Master of Library Science and Audio Visual at the University of Northern Colorado. She started her teaching career in Arizona but then moved to Denver, where she taught for 10 years at Rose Hill Elementary in Commerce City until she met and married her husband Paul. They were married June 6, 1976 outside of Denver and thereafter she joined him to start their life together in Cheyenne. She taught two years at Cole Elementary, and then was the librarian for 21 years at Johnson Junior High and eight years at East High School.
During these years, she was active with a variety of local and national groups including: Alpha Delta Kappa, WY Library Association, PEO, Cheyenne Little Players Theater, Ascension Lutheran Church, and as a 4-H leader. She enjoyed various social groups such as bridge, gourmet, and others.
She retired in 2008 and became active with the Cheyenne School Foundation Board and worked in the House of Representatives of the Wyoming Legislature.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Pearl and Harold Meredith.
She is survived by her husband, Paul; daughter, Kate Fanning and husband, Yossi Mekelberg (London, England); step-granddaughter, Natalie Mekelberg; daughter, Paula and husband, Vonnie Lopez (Grand Junction, Colorado); grandchildren, Madeline and Miles Lopez; brother, Hal Meredith and his wife, Jewel Ann (Alamosa, Colorado). She is also survived by many relatives who became her family through marriage, whom she held dear, and were a large part of her life.
She was dedicated to and found great joy in her family, her friends, and her students. She loved travel and she made sure to celebrate every moment-every birthday, holiday, milestone, and achievement.
The family would like to thank all who helped her along the last and most difficult part of her life’s journey.
A celebration of life will be held early this summer.
Donations in lieu of flowers please, to the Cheyenne School Foundation online (or via post: PO Box 484 Cheyenne, WY 82003) or the Laramie County Library Foundation online (2200 Pioneer Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82001).
Michael Douglas Hurt: 1960 – 2024
Michael D, Hurt, 64, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, passed away on March 30, 2024, at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, surrounded by family.
Michael was born on March 23, 1960, in Detroit, Michigan, to Bill and Sally Hurt. Michael graduated from Redford Union High School in 1978. Michael worked in the restaurant industry, maintenance department at the hospital, and as a heavy equipment operator. In 1990, Michael moved to Cheyenne to live closer to his brother and family.
At the beginning of 1992, Michael met his wife Melissa, and they married on September 5, 1992. In 1993, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Melinda. Six years later, they were once again blessed with the birth of their son, Matthew.
Michael worked for Wells Fargo Armored Car, Tilton Ready Mix, and for car dealerships in Cheyenne, transporting customers and detailing vehicles, one of his favorite pastimes.
When Michael was not working, you would find him washing and waxing his vehicles. He loved his El Caminos and helping others with their vehicles. He also enjoyed attending gun shows. Michael spent much of his time riding his motorcycles and took trips with friends to the rally in Sturgis.
Michael cherished his time that he spent with his grandson, Declan and his bonus granddaughter, Ariah.
Michael is survived by his wife, Melissa; daughter, Melinda Churchill (Marshall); son, Matthew Hurt (Alysiah Jack); his grandson, Declan; granddaughter, Ariah; brother, James Hurt; sister, Kathleen Malta; nephews, Jon Malta and Joshua Hurt; mother-in-law, Christine Powers; and other various family, including many aunts and uncles, cousins, and nieces and nephews.
Michael was preceded in death by his father, Bill; and his mother, Sally.
A viewing will be on Thursday April 4, 2024, from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. and funeral services will be on Friday April 5, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Heart Foundation.
Jim McAffee: 1942 – 2024
Jim McAffee, 81, passed away on March 28, 2024, surrounded by family at VA Hospice in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
He was born December 1, 1942 in Cheyenne, a son of Leroy G. and Dolly D. (Stewart) McAffee. Jim was a graduate of Cheyenne High School and enlisted in the US Navy in 1963 where he was stationed on the USS Midway during Vietnam. He retired after 46 years working as an electrical installer in telecommunications. He was there through the days of “Ma Bell,” AT&T, Lucent, and Avaya. He worked on the manual phone switching equipment later transferring everything over to fiber optics in the phone company building in downtown Cheyenne. He traveled across the state of Wyoming and Northern Colorado working on the modernization of phone systems.
He met his wife to be, Marilyn Green, working at Millers super market where she was a regular customer. They were married in Cheyenne at the First United Methodist Church in 1967. Their home was destroyed by the 1979 Cheyenne tornado. Jim built back the house on his own over several years where the family lived out their lives. He was handy with just about everything including woodworking, mechanics, inventions, and also could use electrical tape and waxed 12 cord to repair or tie down just about anything.
He, his wife, and two children loved the outdoors and did many camping, boating, and fishing adventures across Wyoming and Canada. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, family, and friends across Europe, Hawaii, and many wonderful destinations.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn McAffee; parents, Leroy and Dolly McAffee; brothers: Dale, Gordon, Leonard, Ted; and sister, Marilyn.
Jim is survived by his son, Brandon McAffee of Laramie, Wyoming; and daughter, Shelley Bower of Denver, Colorado
The memorial service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on April 12 at Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Chapel, 2222 Russell Ave., in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Burial with full military honors will take place afterward at Cheyenne National Cemetery, followed by reception at Bunkhouse Bar & Grill, 1064 Happy Jack Rd, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Services are under the care of Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home.
