May 10 Mary Bohl, 94, of Cottonwood, Ariz., formerly of Worland and
Manderson
May 10 Carolyn Mercer Kelsey,
69, of Loganville, Wis., formerly of Hyattville
May 15, Carl Jordan, 32, of Worland near
Baggs
May 16, James Aaron Steadman, 84, of Thermopolis
May 22 Phyllis Louise Cordingly,
71, of Thermopolis
May 20 Esther Link, 83, of Emblem
May 18 Earl Marvin Clelland, 84,
of Worland, in Billings, Mont.
May 25 Maycle A. Wood, 88, of Thermopolis
May 29 Christian Michael Brazell, 19, of Worland, in Billings, Mont.
May 25 Donna Mae Punteney, 89, of Thermopolis
June 3 Thomas Mack Davis, 75, of Worland
June 3 Ireta Lynn Fuller Musgrove, 101, of Lovell
June 6 Vivian A. Farmer, 55, of
Thermopolis
June 6 Mark Earl Neal, 73, of
Thermopolis
June 12 Don R. Robinson, 76, of Worland
June 12 John P. Aurand, Jr., 84, of Worland
June 15 Terrill Gibbons, 86,
of Worland
June 12 June Alaniz, 92, of Riverton,
formerly of Thermopolis
June 17 Curtis Taylor Brown, 34,
of Worland in Billings, Mont.
June 17 Mike Montoya Sr., 102, of
Worland
June 14 Ina Hillberry McNeese,
77, of Casper, formerly of Worland
WORLAND – Beloved husband, father, brother, son and friend, Curtis
Taylor Brown, 34, passed away on Monday, June 17, 2013 from injuries
sustained in a motorcycle accident.
Curtis was born on Sept. 24, 1978 in Lovell, the seventh child of
Winn and Genielle Brown.
Early on, it was apparent that Curt was gifted intellectually and
spiritually. He had a great imagination, writing and drawing his own
comics. He was a voracious reader and loved learning, with a
photographic memory, who quoted movies, literature and scripture. As
he grew, he became a talented poet and Shakespearian philosopher. He
always had a drive for self-improvement and he would read and tinker
with something until he became an expert on it. His passion for
motorcycles and tearing them apart to rebuild them with his own
amazing Dirty Ratt flair was just one of many examples of his talent
and self-drive. He was also blessed in his career as an oil and gas
completions consultant, which was another example of his need to
become the best that he could be. Anyone who knew him knew that he
was the best father, husband and friend, no improvement needed.
He met the love of his life and soul mate, Erica Brush, on a blind
date, knowing that night that she would be his wife and she felt the
same way about him. Throughout their 13 years of marriage, they were
still honeymooners. Together they were blessed with three amazing
children, Carter, 12, McCayde, 8, and Kinlynn, 7.
He had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and a giving heart. One
example of this is recently when Curt learned that students at his
children’s school were running a mile race without sufficient shoes.
He drove to Cody late that night to buy 30 pairs of running shoes
for those students so they would have them in time for the run the
next morning. Even in death, Curtis generously gave life to many
people as an organ donor.
His favorite thing in the world to do was snuggle with his kids and
wife on the couch and watch old movies. It was their favorite thing
to do with him as well. He loved spending time with them whether
swimming, playing Legos and going turkey hunting with his sons,
playing dolls with his daughter, going for bike rides with them and
playing at the park. He always looked forward to his time at home
and loved to surprise his wife with flowers and a beautiful
self-penned poem. Always the romantic, he made his wife feel like a
queen and the most blessed woman on Earth. They were truly soul
mates.
Curtis touched lives wherever he was with his infectious smile and
amazing personality. He will be missed by all.
Curtis is survived by his wife, Erica; his children, Carter, McCayde
and Kinlynn; his parents; and his siblings, Cindy, Scott, Lorilyn,
Kody, Christy, Tricia, Travis, Nicole and Michael. He is also
survived by Erica’s family, Mike and Diana Brush, Levi, Seth
(Tiffany) and Caleb and an adopted brother, Joe Bertagnole.
Funeral services will be Saturday, June 22 at 10 a.m. at the Worland
Middle School Auditorium, 2150 Howell Avenue with graveside services
following. The viewing will be held Friday, June 21 from 6-7 p.m. at
the Bryant Funeral Home, 1320 Big Horn Avenue in Worland.
Memorial donations may be made in Curtis’ name in care of Bryant
Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.
WORLAND – Longtime Worland resident Mike Montoya, Sr, 102, passed
away on Monday, June 17, 2013 at Washakie Medical Center in Worland
with his family by his side.
Mike was born on May 9, 1911 in Pinos, Zacatecas, Mexico, a son of
Alejo and Luisa (Silva) Montoya. He grew up in Mexico and came to
the United States when he was 9 years old to work with his father
and two brothers on farms in California. They next went to Colorado
to work in the coal mines.
At the age of 14, he started working in the coal mines by himself as
his family had returned to Mexico. He worked at the Alamo Coal Mine
in Walsenburg, Colo. before moving to the Worland area in 1936. He
worked for the Ronco Coal mine at Gebo until retiring in 1975.
He had met Refugio “Cuca” Ramos in Worland, and they were married in
Thermopolis in 1942. They lived at Gebo and Kirby before finally
settling in Worland where they raised their family. The couple had
also lived in Billings, Mont. for a short time after his retirement.
During his retirement, he worked for his son’s business, Montoya
Construction, for several years. He also enjoyed working in his
garden and yard, visiting with his children, grandchildren,
great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Luis and
Jesus; and by his wife, Cuca Montoya on May 9, 2011.
Mike, Sr. is survived by his sons, Alex (Gail) Briceno of Billings
and Mike (Marilyn) Montoya, Jr. of Worland; his daughter, Dolores
Montoya Coguill of Worland. He is also survived by his
grandchildren, Joneen Briceno (Brent) Kallevig, Dayna Briceno
(Jeffrey) Bird, Kevin (June) Briceno, Troy Briceno, Michelle Briceno
(Carlisle) Durbin, Jacqueline Briceno, Tiffany (Casey Cech) Briceno,
Tyler Briceno and Jerod (Jennifer) Vontz; Mike (Tammy) Montoya III,
Marty Montoya, Marla Montoya (Bob) Edwards, and Mareena Montoya
(Scott) McClure; Jody Hernandez, Cindy Hernandez (Bart) Cornell,
Tracy Hernandez, Ray (Crystal) Coguill and Katherine Coguill.
He is also survived by 37 great-grandchildren and six
great-great-grandchildren; his nephew, Sal Fabela; and nieces, Toni
Munoz, Mary Dixon, and Belen Lucero all of Worland.
A visitation will be held on Friday, June 21 from 7-8 p.m. at Veile
Mortuary Chapel. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, June
22 at 3 p.m. at Victory Christian Center, 967 Highway 20 North, just
north of Worland. Burial will follow at Riverview Memorial Gardens
Cemetery in Worland. Pastor David Villa will officiate at the
services.
Veile Mortuary is assisting the family with the arrangements.
CASPER – Former Worland resident Ina Hillberry McNeese, 77, of
Casper, passed away on Friday, June 14, 2013.
Services are being planned for a later date.
Bustard’s Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
