Locklynn Fay Burnett: 2023 – 2024
Locklynn Fay Burnett left this world surrounded by her loving family and was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on August 5, 2024. Locklynn was born at Poudre Valley Hospital to Reese and Hannah Burnett on August 17, 2023.
She loved her life on the farm in Carpenter, Wyoming, and was happiest tagging along as a little helper, whether walking the calf barn with Mom or checking cows and riding in the side-by-side with Dad. Locklynn loved her dogs, horses, and cows, with her first word being “moo.” She loved making new friends and was adored by all the farm help who she would greet while playing beside Mom working in the farm office. Locklynn had a bright, joyous, outgoing personality that touched the lives of so many who knew and loved her. Locklynn was dearly loved by her parents and family and brought abounding joy to their lives.
She is survived by parents, Reese and Hannah Burnett; Jeff and Kim Burnett (grandparents); Mindy and Jason Smith (grandparents); Robert Tingler (grandfather); Phillip and Kim Gratton (great-grandparents); Michelle Tingler (great-grandmother); Bill Blankenship (great-grandfather); John and Geri Blackwelder (great-grandparents); Rob Pachner (great-grandfather); Jerry and Margaret Burnett (great-grandparents); Linda Sharp (great-great-grandmother); Kaleb and Madison Guilfoyle (uncle and aunt); Nathan Striegel (uncle); Conner Tingler (uncle); and Layne Burnett (aunt). She was also survived by many cousins and great aunts and uncles who cherished her.
A viewing will be held at Wiederspahn Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes on Friday, August 9, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. A service will be held at the Pine Bluffs Community Center on Saturday, August 10, at 2:30 p.m. Burial services will follow at the Carpenter Cemetery. The family would prefer colorful attire to celebrate the life of their sweet girl at remembrance services.
Lloyd Chamberlain Briggs: 1930 – 2024
Lloyd Chamberlain Briggs, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grand, passed away on August 2, 2024, in Burns, Wyoming, at the age of 94. He was born on January 26, 1930, in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Lloyd dedicated much of his life to the art of driving, serving as a truck driver for AmeriGas (CalGas) in Cheyenne. His exceptional skills and commitment to safety led to him being named Driver of the Month by the Wyoming Trucking Association’s Council of Safety Supervisors May 1986. He was also recognized for driving over three million miles accident-free by his company, a testament to his professionalism and dedication to his craft.
After retiring, Lloyd found joy in grooming snowmobile trails for the state of Wyoming. His passion for snowmobiling was evident through his membership in the Wyoming/Colorado Snowmobile Club and being named Snowmobiler of the Year by the Wyoming State Snowmobile Association Fun Days in Cody, Wyoming. His dedication to maintaining the trails earned him the Wyoming State Trail Worker Award from the American Trails Board.
A natural storyteller, Lloyd entertained family and friends with his captivating tales, leaving them guessing whether his stories were fact or fiction. His grandchildren especially cherished the moments spent listening to his narratives, creating lasting memories that will be treasured forever.
In addition to his illustrious career and love for snowmobiling, Lloyd was a skilled automobile mechanic, carpenter, plumber, and electrician. His vast knowledge and willingness to lend a helping hand endeared him to all who knew him.
Lloyd is survived by his daughters: Patricia Buckley, Gail Jones (Bernard), and Joyce Andrews; along with nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; and his son, Lloyd Ray.
In honoring Lloyd Briggs, we celebrate a life well-lived, filled with love, dedication, and a passion for storytelling, snowmobiling, and service. His legacy will continue to inspire and bring warmth to the hearts of all who were fortunate to have known him. May he rest in peace.
Lynn Farris Cunningham: 1928 – 2024
Lynn Farris Cunningham, 96, was born April 7, 1928, in Gurley, Nebraska to Lynn and Vera Cunningham. His father was the postmaster in the little town north of Sidney
Lynn spent his childhood in Lincoln, Nebraska where his father worked for the state reformatory. The family moved to Sterling, Colorado when he was in middle school and then to Casper, Wyoming. Lynn graduated from Natrona County High School in 1947.
In 1951 he earned a BS from Woodbury College in Los Angeles, California, in fashion design. He joined the US Coast Guard in January 1952, serving on the USCGC Escanaba off the coast of Korea during the Korean Conflict. He was also a member of the Coast Guard Reserve.
Upon his discharge, Lynn worked many jobs around the western United States. He came to Cheyenne in 1963 to work for the Wyoming Highway Department. He met Janet Waits at the street square dance downtown during that summer.
They were married on Valentine’s Day 1965 at the First United Methodist Church where they have been members for 60 years. A few years later he moved to the US Geological Survey working as a cartographer, retiring in 1988.
Lynn took a course in furniture upholstery and formed his own business in a shop he built at his home, Lynn’s Antique and Custom Upholstery. He worked both jobs until his retirement from USGS. He continued to do upholstery work until 1995.
Lynn was active in his church for many years. He was a driving force in the prostate cancer group in Cheyenne and participated in many Relay for Life events. He was an active member of the Scottish Society of Southeast Wyoming.
Lynn and Janet enjoyed many travels in their later years, visiting all 50 states and taking several trips abroad.
Lynn is preceded in death by his parents and a younger brother, Jim. He is survived by his wife, Janet; daughter, Lesley (Dave) Urasky; Forest Cunningham; daughter, Amanda Cunningham and grandson, Liam. He is also survived by siblings, Dan Cunningham and Sondra Smull, both of Lander Wyoming.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 108 East 18th street, followed by military honors and a reception at the church. Donations can be made to First United Methodist Church, or to Wyoming branch of the American Cancer Society.
Xavier Robert Curtiss: 1999 – 2024
Xavier Robert Curtiss, of Kansas City, Missouri, was brought into this world on May 14, 1999, and tragically left us on July 17, 2024.
Xavier was an ambitious soul, loved by so many. He was a torch in a room full of candles, and there was nothing that could put out his flame. He was goofy, extremely kind-hearted, and always knew how to put a smile on your face. Most of all though, he was a son, a brother, a father, and a friend to all.
He spent most of his life in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he shined a light on so many people in so many different ways. If you didn’t see Xavier with his friends or family, you always knew he would be playing rocket league with his older brother or when those demons came chasing him, he always had his little sister to rely on and bring him back. In those especially difficult times, it’s hard not to mention him spending hours on the phone with his father, listening to Eminem and just self-reflecting.
Xavier loved singing songs on full blast with his mother while learning how to cook and creating art that is still hung to this day. If you knew Xavier, he made the best food. He loved installing subs in some new car he just got, blaring them miles away. There is no one who loved hot wings, rattlesnake bites, and Rick and Morty more than him. He was immensely talented with his hands, being able to build anything out of nothing. Xavier was just a simple man, but nothing short of amazing in every way and we are so grateful we can carry on his legacy in his son’s name.
Xavier, you had a son that looked up to you and he will be taken care of and know all the best parts of you. Your siblings will stay close. Your parents will heal. We are all bursting with your love and comfort, so please rest in peace. We all love you so much.
Xavier is survived by his mother, Shawrisa Curtiss; father, Bobby Curtiss; older brother, Isaac Curtiss; little sister, Alayna Curtiss; stepfather, Mike Smith; grandparents, MaryEllen (who he shared a birthday with) and Joe Gallegos; and all of his friends and family who he may have touched in his short life.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Wiederspahn-Radomsky Funeral Home. A Viewing will be held from 12 to 5 p.m., Thursday, at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel.
Paul Frederick Johnson: 1926 – 2024
The humble beginnings of Paul Johnson will not surprise anyone who knew him. It is a fitting origin for his quiet but powerful legacy of a lifetime of selflessness and love.
The youngest of Harry and Fannie Johnson’s five children, Paul Frederick Johnson was born on their small family farm on July 14, 1926, in Ottumwa, South Dakota. As a child of the Great Depression, simplicity and gratitude for the small things became grounding principles throughout his near century of life. Being the youngest may have played a role in his signature mischievousness, and the memories of his playfulness remind us all not to take ourselves too seriously and to find joy wherever possible.
The Dust Bowl of the 1930s forced his family to sell everything they owned and move east to Keokuk, Iowa. His dedicated effort of walking three miles to and from school to earn his 1944 high school diploma from Lee County Public Schools gave our grandfather every reason to lament about his days of “barefoot, uphill, both ways,” but he was never one to complain.
Paul’s doggedness is exemplified in his incredible military career, with the rare distinction of being a veteran of both WWII and the Korean War. He rarely spoke of his time in the army, and the extent of his bravery and vital contributions may yet be revealed, as significant details were only recently discovered by descendants combing through memorabilia in old shoe and cigar boxes.
From 1944 to 1946, he served in the Ski Patrol and Mule Packing units as part of the 10th Mountain Division in the United States Forces in Austria. Following his active duty during WWII, Paul continued to serve in the Army Reserves as a construction machine operator from 1946 until returning to active duty from 1948 to 1952 in the Korean War as an Administrative Specialist in Headquarters, as a Stenotype Court Reporter, and as an airstrip repairman. His ready response to the call during some of our country’s most dire times earned him, at the very least, the Army Commendation Ribbon, but we wouldn’t be surprised if further decorations are revealed within these battered old boxes.
Patricia A. Doherty had two young children, Richard and Dave, when she met the quiet farm boy in Donnellson, Iowa, recently home from war. A lesser man of his time may have viewed the package deal as too much added responsibility, but Paul never hesitated to meet the moment. He embraced his role as a family man when they were married on June 19, 1954, and he reveled in his role as a husband and father. He and Pat were thrilled with the addition of their third son, Joel, and completed their family with the birth of their daughter, Jane.
Word of work in Rawlins, Wyoming, brought the family west. His first job in the Equality State as an Auto Body Repairman eventually led to his own business in Rawlins, WestSide Body Shop. Paul continued working as an auto body repairman until the age of 87, spending his final working years restoring gas pumps in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Nothing brought out Paul’s playfulness more than his grandchildren. He shared his love of the outdoors and adventure with family camping and fishing trips. From the silly nicknames he gave everyone to the endless teasing and jokes, the moments accompanied by his mischievous grin and contagious chuckle are our most treasured memories.
His patience and commitment as a partner and doting husband to his spirited wife for 65 years of marriage is another powerful example of dedication and selfless service. He cared diligently for her until her passing in 2020.
Paul passed away on July 27, 2024, in Loveland, Colorado, just 18 days after his 98th birthday. He had promised to make it to 98, and he exceeded that promise with his characteristic fortitude and grit.
As he joins his wife; his oldest son, Dick,; his parents; and all of his siblings for the adventure of whatever mystery that follows; we can all hear his quick dismissal of the fuss being made on his behalf: “Holy Mackerel, we don’t need to make a big deal of it,” he’d say with a wave of his hand.
We do feel he’d forgive this one indulgence. It was he, after all, who taught us the importance of personal responsibility. Sharing the significant impact his quiet example has had on us all feels requisite to honor the life and legacy of a man of few words but an abundance of generosity and action. May his life inspire us all to embody the same dedication, humility, and love that he so effortlessly displayed.
Veteran Memorial Service will be held at Cheyenne National Cemetery.
Friday, Aug 16 at 11 a.m. Celebration of his life to follow from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Gathering Place 1900 E 21st St, Cheyenne WY 82001.
Casual attire is welcome—Paul would want you to wear whatever you like, just ‘NO MESS TUBBIN!’
