Clinton Lee Cundy: 1961 – 2025
Funeral service for Clinton Cundy will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, February 21, 2025 at Gillette Memorial Chapel with Rev. Tom Reynolds officiating; interment to follow at Mt. Pisgah Cemeter. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2025 at Gillette Memorial Chapel.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Clinton Lee Cundy Sr., affectionately known as Clint, who left this world on February 17, 2025, at the age of 63. Born on April 17, 1961, in Rawlins Wyoming to Leslie and Donna Cundy. Clint was an exceptional and caring son, brother, uncle, father, grandfather, and friend.
Clint’s warmth and friendliness were his trademarks, and he had an unparalleled gift for meeting new people, sharing laughter, and brightening any room with his stories and jokes. A deeply caring individual Clint would make sure to visit people who were ill or otherwise couldn’t get out much. He was also very helpful and would insist on helping friends with their various projects. An animal lover at heart, Clint’s affection for dogs was legendary; his numerous pets were beloved members of his family and are surely waiting for him with wagging tails.
Family was everything to Clint and he never missed a family gathering. Always hovering near the kitchen wondering when the food was going to be ready. He loved going to the family home at Keyhole in the summer and watching the fireworks on the fourth of July. However, his greatest pride and joy came from his role as a father and grandfather. Clint cherished every moment spent with his children and grandchildren, and he treasured the legacy of love and joy he built through those relationships.
Clint was also a dedicated and hard-working individual spending much of his professional life as an equipment operator for Cundy Asphalt. He later brought his skills to MGM and DRM Construction and loved being part of a team.
Clint’s journey of recovery from alcoholism was a profound testament to his resilience and strength. He was immensely proud of this achievement and deeply valued the support and fellowship he found at Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, creating bonds of friendship and solidarity that enriched his life.
Clint also enjoyed the thrill of gambling and relished trips to Deadwood. Clint would often be the first to sign up for the trips organized by the Campbell County Senior Center and they often paid off for him. Fortune smiled upon him with a few jackpots over the years that he joked got him back to even.
Clint is survived by his loving family: daughter, Leslie Cundy-Smith and her husband, Garr Smith and grandchildren, Briauna, Kataleya Smith; his son, Clinton Lee Cundy Jr. and grandchildren, Cashton, Ayden Cundy. He also leaves behind his father, Les Cundy; siblings: Brad and Jan Cundy, Clay and Leslie Cundy, Kim Clark; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Clint was preceded in death by his dear mother, Donna Lee Cundy; and maternal grandparents, Lewis and Ethelyn Hansen; and paternal grandparents, Henry and Amie Cundy; along with several aunts and uncles.
As we bid farewell to Clint, we celebrate a life filled with laughter, love, and unwavering spirit. His memory will be cherished by all who knew him, and his legacy of kindness and courage will continue to inspire us. Rest in peace, Clint; you will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by many.
Earl C Cates Sr.: 1926 – 2025
Earl Calvin Cates was born September 14, 1926, to Fred and Myrtle (Morelin) Cates in Ellsinore, Missouri. He departed this life on February 10, 2025, at the age of 98 years in Cushing, Oklahoma.
Earl was one of twelve children; he was raised in Cushing, graduating from Cushing High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma A&M University. He served in the United Stated Navy, serving during World War II.
Earl enjoyed playing golf, raising goats and real estate development. He was formerly of Casper, Wyoming, where he started Arrow Realty.
Survivors include his wife, Zadith; two children, Judith Kopetzky of Shelby, Nebraska and Dwane Cates of Pheonix, Arizona; one sister, Rose McKeown of Stillwater; eight grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, Earl was preceded in death by one son, Earl Cates, Jr.; and siblings: Glen Cates, Ernie Cates, Melvin Cates, Bud Cates, Carlos “C.W.” Cates, Zora Lamb, Elvie Cates, Azilee Cates, Ada Cates and Opal Cates.
A celebration of Earl’s life will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Godofredo’s, 209 E Broadway, Cushing.
William “Bill” Lee Pridgeon: 1953 – 2025
William “Bill” Lee Pridgeon age 71, of Beulah, Wyoming passed away on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at Glendo Reservoir. A celebration of his life will be on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. at Arts & Celebration by the Creek in Gillette, Wyoming.
William “Bill” Lee Pridgeon, 71, loved the Wyoming outdoors and thoroughly enjoyed sharing his experiences with his family and extended family. His passions were to hunt, fish and hunt some more – even getting started planning the next year’s hunt immediately after the latest one ended.
On April 6, 1953, Bill was born on his mother’s birthday to John and Clarice (Thompson) Pridgeon in Newcastle, Wyoming. He spent his childhood west of Moorcroft at the Donkey Creek True companies camp where he would get into many escapades with his friend Charlie Norris. In 1971, Bill graduated from Moorcroft High School, where he excelled at wrestling, placing first at state. He loved facing off against his cousin, Tom Pridgeon, who wrestled in the same weight class at Sundance High School and was Bill’s lifelong friend.
Bill served as a combat medic in the U.S. Army from 1973 to 1976 earning the rank of E5 Sargent. He took part in an overseas tour between 1973 and 1974 in South Korea where he transported patients to MASH Units – this explains his hate for rice. His hate for sand came from being stationed in Fort Sewart, Georgia.
After the Army, Bill would meet and later marry Lyndia “Kim” Boothe and welcome her son, Steven Morgado, into his life. They had their son, Mike Pridgeon shortly after. On Christmas Eve, 1983, Bill married Elaine Pickett at Devil’s Tower, where temperatures were minus 24 degrees below zero, likely the coldest and shortest ceremony on record! Bill and Elaine would go on have three more children: Tim Pridgeon, Matt Pridgeon and Amy “Oops” (Pridgeon) Stetson to make it five.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Bill worked for Belle Fourche Pipeline (a True company) from 1989 to 2012. He worked out of the Hilight Field and his children enjoyed a similar upbringing at the True Company camp near Wright, where they all attended school. Bill always volunteered his time and energy to teaching and helping young people. He was a mentor to many and acquired a lot of bonus children through his selfless actions. One of these many instances was coaching Little League Baseball and would later take his Babe Ruth baseball team to the state tournament in 2001. With all his endeavors there were a lot of late nights, but he would always be at work the next day.
Due to health reasons, Bill retired in 2012 at which time he and Elaine moved to Sand Creek, near Beulah, Wyoming. After many years of hunts and planning for hunts, Elaine made a rule that Bill had to wait until Jan. 1 to start planning his next hunt. Regardless, Bill always had a plan in place for enjoying the outdoors whether it was hunting season or not. Those plans created great memories up to and including his very last adventure. These will never be forgotten by those who shared Bill’s great experiences and heard all the stories he had to share.
Bill died with his boots on experiencing life in the outdoors with his family and friends.
Bill is preceded in death by his brothers, “Baby” Mike Pridgeon and C. John Pridgeon; his father, John Pridgeon; his sister-in-law, Randy Pridgeon; and his bonus son, Ben Hughes. Aaron Michael Fletcher, a bonus son, also died with Bill at Glendo Reservoir.
He is survived by his wife; mother, Clarice; children: Micheal (Kim) Pridgeon, Timothy (Angela) Pridgeon, Matthew (Cheryl) Pridgeon, Amy (Pat) Stetson, Steven (Stephanie) Morgado; bonus sons, Nick Watt (Ashley) and Justin (Mandy) Robb; his brothers, Richard Pridgeon, and Hank Pridgeon; his sister, Nancy Jennings; and his grandchildren: Grace, Abby, Jocelyn, Camden, Violet, Isabel, Elliot, Charlie Pridgeon, Demi, Jules, Emmit Stetson, KyLee, Hailee, Kinzlee Morgado; and bonus grandchildren: Logan, Bret, Mya, Jackson Robb, Bradley, and Conner Watt.
