Bonnie Jean Lawrence: 1957 – 2025
It is with much sorrow that the family of Bonnie Lawrence announce her passing on January 13, 2025, after a short but fierce battle with cancer.
Bonnie was born February 16, 1957, to Tom and Carol Blackburn in Barberton, Ohio and graduated from Barberton High School in 1975. She married her high school sweetheart, David Lawrence, in 1976 and together they were blessed with two beautiful children- Adam and Sarah.
Together David, Bonnie, Adam, and Sarah enjoyed several duty stations throughout the U.S. as Bonnie proudly played the role of military wife, supporting her family through all the obstacles inherent to the military lifestyle, during David’s 22 years of service. The family chose Cheyenne, Wyoming as their forever home after David’s retirement from Air Force in 2004.
Bonnie built an impressive career in credit union banking from which she retired in 2023. She was a fearless leader and beloved mentor. She was determined to help others succeed and refused to accept failure as an option. She always had her team’s back and advocated for their best interests. She led by example, setting an optimistic tone for her team by taking on each day with a renewed perspective and fresh start. Her influence has left a lasting impact on the personal and career development of many that worked with her.
Bonnie was strong, beautiful, kind and had the most infectious laugh and spirited personality. Her most precious possession in life was her family whom she loved unconditionally. She was extremely caring and generous with a heart of gold. She would help anyone in need, and with her impeccable sense of style, she would look fabulous doing it. She could be found soaking up the sun whenever possible and loved vacationing at the beach or on a Caribbean cruise. She will be remembered for her quick and sassy wit, and a straightforward personality that contrasted with her petite stature.
She was preceded in death by her father, Tom Blackburn; brother-in-law, Dan Grimm; niece, Christine Sandmann; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Veronica and Wendell Lawrence. She is survived by David Lawrence; son, Adam Lawrence; daughter, Sarah (Dan) Rusk; mother, Carol Blackburn; sister, Evelyn Grimm; brother, Tom; and many loved nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
Bonnie, you will be dearly missed by all who loved you. You took with you a piece of all of our hearts; but left with us a lifetime of wonderful and loving memories.
The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center eighth floor; you rock and for their kindness and care of Bonnie and her family.
A mass in Bonnie’s honor will be held on January 31, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
In lieu of flowers, Bonnie and her family request you to donate to St. Jude Cancer research, Cheyenne Animal Shelter, Black Dog Animal Rescue, or Rooted in Cheyenne.

Karen T Phillips: 1938 – 2025
Karen T Phillips, 86, passed peacefully in the presence of loving family members on January 18, 2025. She was born on April 12, 1938. Weston, Idaho was her birthplace, location of the family farm where she resided with two brothers and four sisters: the children of W. Maurice Tingey and Ruth (Bastian) Tingey.
Farm, family, church, and school formed Karen’s early life along with occasional travels to visit relatives scattered in the southern Idaho/northern Utah area. A fellow high school schoolmate, Clynn Phillips, from the neighboring rural community, Dayton, Idaho would become her husband shortly after graduation. Last September, Karen and Clynn celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. The marriage was blessed with five children. The birth places of the children produce a travel log of their educational and occupational pursuits. Brett and Lori were Utah State babies (BS & MS degrees). Sherri was a Montana State baby (PhD degree). Jerry and Ellen were University of Wyoming babies (UW faculty). No babies during the two years the Phillips lived in Tucson Arizona.
Karen and family came to Laramie in the fall of 1968 and planted deep roots. Her only vocational interest was that of home maker. She did steal enough time from her home duties to graduate from UW although it took 12 years of part-time studies to earn a degree. Karen’s degree from UW was the first of five for her family as four of the children (Brett, Sherri, Jerry and Ellen) also earned UW degrees. Lori broke the cycle with a BS degree from BYU-Idaho.
Music held a lofty position in Karen’s interest profile. She was church organist for more than 40 years and taught beginning piano lessons for more than 20 years. She enjoyed sewing with quilting becoming a prominent pastime later in her life. Starting in the late 1980s, Karen, along with husband Clynn and daughter Ellen, indulged passionately in white water rafting. Most of the white-water rivers in Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho and Utah have carried rafts wave to wave with Karen aboard. To Karen, white water friends were almost family.
Church attendance and church service were part of everyday life. She was a devoted member of the Latter-day Saints church; holding leadership positions in various women and youth organizations.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, W Maurice Tingey and Ruth Bastian Tingey; and a sister, Geniel Siggard. Birth family survivors include three sisters: Angela Weeks, Ruthann Gilbert, Shannon Olson; and two brothers, Mark Tingey and Kent Tingey. She is survived by husband, Clynn Phillips; three daughters: Lori Ann Slater, Sherri Lynn Stewarts and Ellen Christine Titensor; and two sons, Brett James and Gerald B. Phillips. Survivors also include 14 grandchildren and10 great grandchildren.
A caring, compassionate wife, mother, grandmother, friend and neighbor, Karen was loved beyond the measure of words.
Funeral services will be held 12 p.m. Saturday, January 25, 2025 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3311 Hayford Ave, Laramie, Wyoming. The church will be open to individuals wishing to visit with the family one hour prior to services.
Condolences can be left for the family at www.foxfh.com.

Christine (Christy) Ann (Wilson) Yaffa: 1971 – 2025
Christine (Christy) Ann (Wilson) Yaffa, f Castle Rock, Colorado, formerly of Cheyenne, Wyoming, age 53, passed away on Thursday, January 16. She was born July 1, 1971, in Casper, Wyoming and lived most of her life in Riverton and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Christy graduated from Wind River High School in 1989 and went on to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona earning her bachelor’s degree in aviation business management in 1994. She worked for The Wyoming Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division for 25 years and for the Federal Aviation Administration for five years.
Christy dedicated her professional life to the improvement and advancement with tireless commitment to the aviation industry specially airports in Wyoming and around the Western United States. She was highly respected in airport planning, receiving several awards over the 30 years including the Wyoming Airports Coalition Lifetime Achievement award in 2021, and Wyoming Women of Influence Award nominee for 2016 and 2017 by the Wyoming Business Report. Christy served on numerous committees for the advancement of airports including participating as a Federal Aviation Administration Transportation Research Board Airport Cooperative Research Program Ambassador and served on the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Business Advisory Board.
Christy enjoyed spending time with her husband and her dogs, Dolly and Mr. Wilson V, and enjoyed traveling. In November 2024, Christy and her husband Gerry took the vacation of their dreams which was a Mediterranean cruise beginning in Rome and ending in Paris.
Christy is survived by her husband, Gerry Yaffa of Castle Rock, Colorado; brother, Patrick Wilson and wife, Cindy of Salem, Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Marie Wilson of Riverton, Wyoming; brothers-in-law, Henry Yaffa and Eliot Yaffa; and sister-in-law, Caroline Yaffa, all from Lowell Massachusetts; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley Wilson of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and brothers, Steven Wilson of Riverton, Wyoming and Kenneth Wilson of Palatka, Florida.
Services will be held at Wiederspahn Radomsky Chapel of The Chimes, 1900 East 19th St., Cheyenne, Wyoming, on Saturday, January 25 at 2 p.m. A livestream of the service can be accessed on wrcfuneral.com. After the service, there will be a procession to the Cheyenne Memorial Gardens (4701 Christensen Rd, Cheyenne, WY 82009) for burial.
Family and friends who wish to make a donation in Christy’s name are encouraged to give to the nonprofit organization Wyoming Aviation Heritage League to be reserved for museum and educational exhibits. Please send checks to 1720 Silver Spur Rd, Cheyenne, WY 82009 or donate online at wyomingaviationheritage.org.