Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Bunny received a call from her mother one year on July 13th wishing her a happy birthday. Bunny replied that her birthday was August 13, Not July. "Well, all I remember is that it was the 13th and hot as hell", said her mother, Alice Wickersham Brown Spurrier.
Bunny passed away on a cold, snow-filled December 15, 2016 at the age of 93. The differences in the weather were a metaphor for her life; like so many WWII brides who left their known lives to join with their husbands in a whole new life and world. Bunny embraced Wyoming as her own and was always eager to show off "her" state to her family and friends.
Bunny was born in Bryant, Oklahoma and raised in Seminole. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma and working in Tulsa, she met and married Navy pilot, Leonard Van Buskirk, in 1945. He brought her to her new home in Wyoming during a December blizzard, teasing her when they passed Gebo that, "This is Worland!" They made many lifelong friends and called it home until 1997 when they moved to Colorado to live near their son Bryan and Daughter Susan. They spent rewarding years with their grandkids and great grandkids until Leonard passed away in 2003.
Born Marilyn Bernice Brown, she was preceded in death by her natural father, Charlie Brown, her mother Alice Wickersham Brown Spurrier, her step father Jack Spurrier, her sister Mary Spurrier Prasciewiecz, her brother John Spurrier, and great grandson David Morris.
She is survived by daughters Vicki Van Buskirk and Susan Van Buskirk Bowers, son Harold Bryan Van Buskirk and his wife Doreen. Grandchildren surviving are Stacy Bowers Simonet, Brittny Bowers Seeman, Van Maxon, Erica Van Buskirk Douglass, Ryan Van Buskirk, Julie Van Buskirk Morris, and Michael Anthony Van Buskirk.
Great grandchildren are C.J. Simonet (Natasha), Kaeli Simonet (Dillon), Cole Simonet, Dawson Seeman, Wyatt Len Seeman, Cody Seeman, Makala Douglass, Lily Morris, Joseph Morris, and Hazel Morris.
A memorial service will take place Saturday, January 30, at Darrell Howe Mortuary in Lafayette, Colorado at 11 AM. Burial of cremains will take place in Worland in summer 2016.
