Michael James Frazier: 1973 – 2023
Michael J Frazier of Casper, Wyoming – husband to Kristina (Miller) Frazier of 19 years – passed at his home on Saturday in the early morning.
Michael was born in Manchester, Connetticut on June 15, 1973, to Janis and Curtis Frazier. Michael was raised in Manchester with his brother Chris and 2 sisters Sheri and Jodi before moving to Casper, Wyoming in 2011.
Michael loved to work hard side by side with his father-in-law every day and the ride his bike every chance he got. Mike was always the first one to jump up to help any veteran or child who needed it.
Besides his wife he is survived by his children Matt, Michael, Jayson, Austin, Madelyn, Kaitlyn, and Alex; 9 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Michael will never know the impact he had on the community and how much he was truly loved by so many people. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
Thomas C. Losea Jr.: 1963 – 2023
The world lost one of the good guys! Tom was born in Hot Springs, South Dakota. The youngest and only boy to Judy Cox Losea. He moved with his family to Pierre, South Dakota when he was 13 years old, where he graduated from high school. Tom Jr. made the U.S. Army his choice of career and was a Desert Shield/Desert Storm veteran. He was stationed in Germany for many years, where he met his first wife and had his beautiful daughter, Carmen.
Tom returned to the states in 1999 where he decided he wanted to see the country again, so he became a long haul truck driver for several years.
In 2001, Tom moved to Casper to be closer to his mom and sister. He took a job with the Post office.
While in Casper, Tom met the love of his life, Sara. They were married for 13 years until her death in 2021.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Sara Losea; mother, Judy Cox Losea; sister, Susan Lang; grandparents; and an infant nephew.
Tom is survived by his sister, Kathryn Losea of Casper, Wyoming; daughter, Carmen Pinter of Spring Hill, Florida; granddaughters, Hailey; Alanna; and Karizma.
Tom loved ALL of his Army buddies.
Cinda Kay Nighswonger: 1952 – 2023
Cinda Kay Nighswonger, of Casper, Wyoming, passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2023.
Cinda was born on May 24, 1952 in Wichita, Kansas, and recently retired from the IRS and moved to Casper, Wyoming.
Cinda was predeceased by her parents, Harry and Doris Nighswonger.
She is survived by her son, Curtis Sandberg (Chantel); granddaughter Carlee; grandson Skyler Sandberg; great-granddaughter Lilith; brother Chuck Nighswonger (Martha); brother Frank Nighswonger (Aleen); and brother Bill Nighswonger (Wendy).
Margaret Ann Pontif: 1961- 2023
Margaret Ann Pontif, 62, of Casper, Wyoming passed away Monday, June 5, 2023.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Oliver and Juliet Pontif, and J.W. and Margaret Ricks. Also two brothers, David and Patrick Pontif.
She was a 1979 graduate of H.L. Bourgeois High School in Gray, Louisiana, and attended Nichols State University in Thibodaux La.
Scott J. Reculusa: 1975 – 2023
Funeral services for Scott Reculusa, 48 year old Kaycee resident who passed away Friday at his ranch home in Kaycee, will be held Friday June 16th at 10:00 a.m. at the Harold Jarrard Park Building in Kaycee with pastors Harold Bradshaw and Perry Tangent officiating. Visitation will be held at the Harness Funeral Home Chapel in Buffalo on Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A private family interment will take place at a later time.
Donations in Scott’s memory may be made to the Scott Reculusa Memorial, a fund set up for the education of his three children. Send checks and donations to 949 Lower Sussex Road in Kaycee, Wyoming 82639. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com.
Scott Joseph Reculusa was born on March 11, 1975, in Buffalo, Wyoming to Joe and Joyce Reculusa. He grew up on the family ranch and went to school in Kaycee where he graduated from Kaycee High School with the class of 1994. After high school he attended Northwest Community College in Powell, Wyoming where he received an Associates Degree in Animal Science in 1996. After college he returned to the family ranch and also worked in the oil fields.
He was working as a contract pumper for L & L Oil Field Services and in 2004 was hired by Anadarko Petroleum as a lease operator. He met Jennifer Wait in Casper in 2005 and they were married on August 22, 2009, in Buffalo. They then made their home on the family ranch in Kaycee. He retired from Anadarko in 2015 and continued working on the ranch until his death.
Scott was a past president of the Johnson County Wool Growers Association and was a member of the Deke Latham Memorial PRCA Rodeo since its inception. He was also a member of the Big Horn Basque Club. He was an avid skier, loved basketball, swimming, wrestling and was very athletic. He was an excellent dancer and had an infectious smile. He had a one-of-a-kind personality.
He is survived by his wife Jennifer Reculusa of Kaycee; two daughters Ciera and Raelyn Reculusa of Kaycee and one son Reno Reculusa also of Kaycee; his parents Joe and Joyce Reculusa also of Kaycee. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Deke and Craig Latham.
Phyllis Jean Snodgrass: 1931 – 2023
Phyllis Jean (Propp) Snodgrass, 91, was born in Casper Wyoming to Phillip Propp Jr. and Mary Alice Hanson Propp, the eldest eldest of five children. She was raised in Casper, attended Grant school and Natrona County High School. On April 21, 1951 she married her forever sweetheart George William (Bill) Snodgrass. They made their lives together on the Goose Egg Ranch west of Casper. After Bills’ passing in 2012 Phyllis remained at the ranch until 2019 moving to Mountain Plaza Assisted Living.
Phyllis was known to welcome folks into her home for a cup of coffee and a slice of the best cherry pie you’ve ever tasted, a cookie jar that was never empty and a meal if you were hungry. The hired hands never went hungry.
Some days she could be found in the field putting up hay, in the yard tending flowers, painting a scene or bringing lemonade to hired help. She was an active member of the Natrona County Cowbells for many years also enjoying her friends in the coffee group, bridge club and artifact hunting when time allowed. She was always involved in her kids sports and rodeo activities. Phyllis loved to laugh.
Phyllis is preceded in death by her parents; beloved husband (Bill); son (Mike); brothers Gary Propp, Lee Propp; sister Emily Singer; and son-in-law Rod Stalkup.
Phyllis is survived by daughter, Laura Stalkup, Casper Wyoming; son, George William (Billy) Snodgrass Jr. Dubois Wyoming; grandchildren, Emmy Jenson, Brent Stalkup, Kyle Stalkup, Matlynn Snodgrass and Augusta Snodgrass; five great-grandchildren; and her youngest sister Linda Galloway.
A celebration of her life will be held on June 22 at 2:00 p.m. at Bustards Funeral Home in Casper. The family requests that memorials in her honor be made to Jason’s Friends Foundation.
Loyd Haden Tanner: 1925 – 2023
Loyd Haden Tanner was born June 15, 1925 in Monroe County, Missouri, the son of Paul and Myrtle Moore Tanner. In 1930, when the Great Depression combined with a severe drought, the family moved to Lucerne, Wyoming to join family members there.
Loyd graduated from Hot Springs County High School in 1943 and enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Corps in August of that year. Two weeks after enlisting, he was assigned to Buckley Field in Denver, Colorado for basic training. After completing Gunnery School, Loyd spent two months in Gulf Port, Mississippi, where he received Overseas Training. Then he and his crew went to Hunterfield, Georgia, where they picked up a plane and flew themselves to Wales.
In Europe, Loyd was assigned to the 8th Air Force in Molesworth, England – in the 427th Squadron of the 303rd Bomb Group. It was on VE (“Victory England”) Day in May 1945 that Loyd boarded a boat bound for the United States. During the time he served in England, Loyd flew 34 missions over Germany, plus one “bail out” (total of 35).
He was forced to bail out on one of these missions when an engine caught on fire. After bailing out, Loyd landed in Hulst, Holland (near the Belgium border). Loyd sprained his ankle when he landed, and he was soon surrounded by cautious civilians. He was relieved when one speaking English told him there was a British camp a few miles down the road and they would contact them for him. He was then flown back back to England a day later, and he was trucked back to the base at Molesworth to be reunited with his crew.
When Loyd returned home, he enrolled at the University of Wyoming, where he earned a Bachelors degree in geology in 1950. After graduation, he worked as a petroleum geologist for Stanolin (later Pan American) before becoming an independent consulting geologist (primarily in Wyoming, Colorado and Utah). After over 30 years in the “oil patch,” Loyd retired — only to start his own sewer- cleaning business, which he turned over to his son in 1995.
Loyd married Verdelia Lindsey in Thermopolis, Wyoming in August 1948. Three children were born to this union before they divorced in August 1962: Marva Ann, Paula Jane and Mark Gregory Tanner. When they were both 83, Loyd married Winona Williams Brummel, who sadly preceded him in death in 2015.
He is survived by daughter Marva Hoffmeyer; son Mark Tanner; and grandchildren Brandon Tanner Jackson, Sarah Annena Jackson Langton, Ryan Cameron Jackson, Jeffrey Peter Cuno, Rebecca Jane Cuno Hankey, Gregory Hayden Tanner and Lindsey Christina Tanner; as well as ten great-grandchildren.
Love for his family and friends was Loyd’s most defining quality. This love was demonstrated when he moved in with his daughter, Marva, following her divorce, and helped raise her children as his own. When people needed his help, he offered assistance in too many ways to list. Always he manifested absolute integrity, so those who knew him would consider it an honor to be compared to him.
A memorial service with military honors will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery.
Dora Jean Westbrook: 1934 – 2023
Dora Jean Westbrook (Cadwell) passed on November 20, 2022 in Rapid City, South Dakota.
At her request, cremation has taken place and Dora’s ashes will later be buried alongside her husband’s ashes, Lester Donald Westbrook Sr., at the Veterans Cemetery in Casper.
Dora was born January 27, 1934 in Casper Wyoming to Marie (Anders) and Richard Cadwell.
Dora was one of eight children. Dora lived the majority of her life in Casper and attended Natrona County High School.April 19, 1953 Dora married Lester Donald Westbrook in Yuma Arizona. Dora and her husband enjoyed 45 years together until his death on November 18, 1998. Dora and Don, as she called him spent their early years residing in Casper, Wyoming where they raised five children. As the children left home Dora and Don purchased a 5th wheel camper and traveled from coast to coast.
The last few years of Don’s life they settled down once again in Las Vegas Nevada until his passing. Dora returned to live in Casper for several years and then moved to Rapid City to be near her eldest daughter. Dora enjoyed listening to books, baking cakes, cookies, cream puffs and her famous popcorn balls. Dora also enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas and cruising where she enjoyed playing craps.
Surviving children include Lester Jr (Leta) Westbrook of Whitewood South Dakota; Larry (Mary) Westbrook of Tellaque Oklahoma; Karen (Rodney) Mass of Rapid City South Dakota; and Shelley (Robert) Mysz of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dora was blessed with 14 grandchildren and over 20 great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her husband Lester Donald Sr.; parents, Richard and Marie Cadwell; brothers Wayne, Stan, Richard Jr, and George; as well as sisters, Mardell, Kit, and Patty.
Also preceding her in death were her son Norman and two of his children, Russell and Justin Westbrook.
Services for Dora Westbrook will be held Monday June 19, 11:00 a.m. at the Veterans Cemetery located in Evansville Wyoming.