Max Eugene Willard: 1928 – 2024
Max Eugene Willard passed away peacefully on September 21, 2024 while surrounded by loved ones at the age of 95.
He was born to Buron Holiday “Shorty” and Goldie Pauline “Missy” Marvel, on September 29, 1928 in Gillette, Wyoming. Upon completing high school in Gillette, Max went to work at Schlumberger and also helped with the various companies owned by the Willard family. The majority of his career was spent in the oilfield, with many of those years at ANR (also known as Coastal Oil and Gas), which he eventually retired from at the age of 71.
In his free time, Max loved boating and Alcova Lake. He was an early member of Alcova ski club and later a board member.
Upon retirement, Max spent his time taking various Wyoming history classes at Casper College through the OLLI program and frequenting FireRock Steakhouse. Max never met a stranger and always had a story to tell.
Max was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; first wife, Bessie; parents, Shorty and Missy; sisters: Flossy (Lewis) Black, Cathy (John) Strong; brother, Edd B (Joyce); and nephew, Mark Willard Black.
He is survived by his son, Charles B. Willard; daughter, Cleo (Will) Breazeale; grandchildren: Buddy (Zoey), Lacy (Bill) Furtado, Justin Breazeale, January Vogel; five great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews
Max was a hard worker and loved by many. He was very social and nobody could accuse him of being a wallflower.
Services will be held at Riverview Memorial Gardens in Worland, Wyoming on November 2, 2024 at 10 a.m. followed by a luncheon at the Worland Elks Lodge. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Worland Senior Center.
Dorothy Lu Cottrell: 1936 – 2024
Memorial services for Dorothy Cottrell will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, November 2, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Shayla Graham officiating. Dorothy, age 88, of Gillette, Wyoming passed away Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at Primrose Retirement Community.
Dorothy (Kaltenbach) Cottrell was born August 24,1936 in Buffalo, Wyoming to Harold and Eleanor (Johnston) Kaltenbach. She attended elementary school, middle school and graduated from Buffalo High School. After graduation in 1954 she attended Hastings College in Nebraska. She married Lyle Cottrell in 1955. They later divorced. From that union she was blessed with three children: Greg, Deb and Christy.
Dorothy was a member, past Elder and Deacon at First Presbyterian Church-Gillette, initiated into Chapter J (Buffalo) P.E.O., charter member of Chapter AR (Gillette) and a current member of Chapter V; recently celebrating her 70-year P.E.O. anniversary. She was also a 56-year member of Gillette Beta Sigma Phi.
She and her Saturday morning coffee friends were known as the “Gabby Girls,” where friendship, fun, and laughter filled their day. Dorothy loved to attend her grand and great-grandchildren’s activities whether it be sports, concerts, programs, horse-back riding or swimming in the river. Dorothy’s favorite place was the cabin in the Big Horn mountains, taking evening drives to see the moose, elk and deer and the wildflowers blooming in the Spring. She was very proud of her Wyoming heritage.
Dorothy worked at the Campbell County Treasurer’s office, Mossholder’s/Lerwick Furniture, Davis Chevrolet, Bill Dorr Accounting, Meyers, Sylte and Holst Accounting and worked many years and retired from R&G Electric. She also volunteered at the Campbell County Public Library and Primrose Retirement Community as an ambassador “extraordinaire” baking cookies for new residents. She enjoyed her bridge club, card games and her Bible study as well as reading to students at Lakeview Elementary.
She is preceded in death by her parents and granddaughter, Crimson Skye. She is survived by her children: Greg (Lynda) Cottrell of Gillette; Deb (Luke) Russell of Hayden, Idaho; Christy (Tim) Palu of Gillette; brother Charles Kaltenbach of Hansville, Washington. She was a VERY proud and dedicated grandmother of eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and “Grandma Dorothy” to many bonus grandchildren. Special thanks to Julie, Megan, Rachel, Brenda, Ali and Hospice for their special care. Thank you to Primrose staff and residents for their care and support.
Memorials are suggested to be made to benefit Beta Sigma Phi or P.E.O. Chapter AR Scholarship.
Latoya Marie Dionne: 1984 – 2024
Latoya Marie Dionne, 40, of Gillette, Wyoming passed away peacefully Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
Latoya was born August 8, 1984, at 25 weeks of gestation to Cheryl Johnson and Cory Dionne in Devils Lake, North Dakota.
Latoya enjoyed attending school in Campbell County and participated in a variety of sports through the Special Olympics of Wyoming. When she wasn’t busy spending time with friends and family or calling people on the phone, Latoya enjoyed listening to music (especially her beloved Slim Shady) and watching reality (trash) TV shows. She loved her role as Auntie LaLa, took pride in her role as big sister, and was a listening ear to anyone who needed it.
Latoya enjoyed her last years of life with her caregivers, Jon and Terry Lueras and their daughters, Aurora, Morgan, and Rylee, and Goddaughter, Olivia. The Lueras family loved Latoya like their own and quickly became a second family to Latoya and all of her family. She loved all of her “brothers and sisters” from the Affiliates Motorcycle Club, and enjoyed being a part of all of the events that the club hosted around the community.
Latoya had a heart of gold, a contagious laugh she enjoyed sharing with others, and an admirable ability to forgive. She was a radiant soul and left a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to know her. Latoya’s spirit will live on in the memories we cherish and the love she shared with us all. She will be forever missed and never forgotten.
Latoya is survived by her parents, Cheryl (Jeff) Rott (Johnson) and Cory (Lori) Dionne; grandmother, Viola Dionne; grandfather, Earl Ingraham; siblings: Ashley (Mike) Pe, Stephanie (Pat) McCreery, Chad (Sarah) Moyers, Kathi Hayes, Kari Hayes; 14 nieces; three nephews; 14 loving aunts and uncles; and 29 adoring cousins.
Latoya is preceded in death by her grandmother, Carol Johnson and grandfathers, Claire Johnson and Carl Dionne.
Latoya’s Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, November 8, 2024 at Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W 5th St, Gillette, WY 82716. Her family has requested her favorite color, yellow, be worn in her honor. A light luncheon to follow at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 210 W. 3rd St., Gillette, WY.
Jonathan Ryan Osborne: 1990 – 2024
Jonathan Ryan Osborne, age 34, of Gillette, Wyoming passed away on October 24, 2024.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, November 1, 2024, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church with Reverend Lin Davenport officiating; interment to follow at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery.
Jonathan Osborne, born on June 6, 1990, was raised in Gillette, Wyoming; he was a proud graduate of Campbell County High School in 2008. With a strong work ethic, he found fulfillment operating heavy equipment at Cordero Rojo Mine, where he dedicated himself to his craft.
Known for his infectious smile and charismatic sense of humor, Jonathan had a heart as big as the Wyoming skies. His greatest joy in life was his family, always putting their needs above his own, creating a warm and loving home for those he cherished. He had a passion for cooking and love for animals. Jonathan’s infectious smile and humor could brighten the darkest of days, making him the heart of every gathering. A true lover of the great outdoors, Jonathan found solace in the mountains while camping, fishing, and exploring the rugged terrain. When not enjoying nature, he could be found tinkering with his vehicles, riding his dirt and street bikes, or sweating it out in the gym while listening to his favorite hard rock tunes.
Jonathan’s passing leaves a void in the lives of all who knew him, with his warmth and laughter forever etched in their hearts. A compassionate father, dedicated worker, and loyal friend, he will be deeply missed.
Jack Felton Strain: 1933 – 2024
Jack Felton Strain, 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by friends and family on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center in Gillette, Wyoming, after a short illness.
Jack was born on October 15, 1933 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was raised by his adoptive parents Oscar and Doris Strain on their ranch in Ignacio, Colorado. He spent his early years working with his family on the ranch. He attended school in in Ignacio and played baseball, and football for the high school teams. He loved riding horses and fishing on the Pine River. He also loved spending time with his Navaho and Zuni friends from the nearby reservations.
Upon graduation from high school in 1952, he joined the Navy to serve our country. After boot camp he spent the next 26 months in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He returned on leave to Colorado and married his high school sweetheart, Mariana Procarione in the Catholic church in Durango, Colorado December 4, 1954. Jack and Mariana moved to San Diego, California where Jack finished his Navy service.
Jack spent his working life in the energy industry all over the mountain west where he was able to pursue his passions for hunting and fishing.
Jack and Mariana settled in Wyoming where they raised their four children in Rock Springs and Sheridan. After their children were raised, Jack and Mariana moved to Englewood, Colorado where Jack finished his career truck driving and setting up portable MRI units at hospitals around the mountain west.
Upon retirement Jack and Mariana moved back to Sheridan where Jack was able to fish the rivers and streams of the Big Horn Mountains. He was an active member of the Catholic community.
In 2015 Jack and Mariana moved to the Primrose Retirement Community in Gillette, Wyoming. Jack occupied his time with his artwork. His heritage showed through his love of Indian beading, painting and carved feathers.
Jack is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mariana; his four children: son, Andy and his wife, Susan from Bright, Indiana; son, Lewis and his wife, Carla of Fort Collins, Colorado; daughter, Anita and her husband, Shelley from Gillette, Wyoming; son Sam, his wife, Jennifer of Colorado Springs, Colorado; grandchildren: Greg, Lauren, Marcella and Landon; and three great-grandchildren: Lilly, Violet and Jeremiah.
In 2003, Jack reconnected with his biological family including his brother, Harris and sister, Aimlie, along with their extended families. This provided Jack with tremendous joy and ultimately provided him with his heritage as a Cherokee Indian. He and his four children were admitted into the Cherokee nation in 2023.
Memorial services will be held at Primrose Retirement Community at 3 p.m. on October 31, 2024. Jack will be interned at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota.
