Jeaneen Kay Siirila

Jeaneen Kay Siirila, 70, went home to God Sunday evening October 27th in her home and surrounded by family following a long struggle with cancer. Jeaneen was born in Corpus Christi, TX on January 20th, 1954. She was the 7th of 8 children born to Hershel and Cora Martin. After spending her childhood years in the Texas town of Aransas Pass she moved with her family to Sinclair Wyoming at age 7.

There she attended and graduated from Rawlins High School in 1972. Shortly after graduating she met her future husband Arnold "Butch" Siirila while working at the local Pamida store. They were married on her 20th birthday, January 20th 1974.

After marriage Jeaneen and Butch moved to Powell, WY and then to Cody, WY where Butch managed the local Pamida Stores. On April 15, 1980 Jeaneen and Butch welcomed a baby girl, Candace Angela Siirila, into their family and on August 2, 1982 they had their second child, son Jared Thomas Siirila.

The family moved to Chadron, NE in 1992 and on July 14, 1993 welcomed a surprise new baby girl, Larissa Marie Siirila. The family moved again in 1998 to Green River, WY before finally settling permanently in Worland, WY in 2003.

Jeaneen worked as a paraeducator in the various Worland elementary schools for almost twenty years, working first with special needs children and later as a reading aid. She had a great passion for teaching kids the joys of reading. Her favorite book was the dictionary and she loved to help her students learn new words by teaching them to look them up in her favorite book.

Jeaneen was a crafter and creator. Her home is filled with beautiful works of art and handcrafts made by her throughout the years. She loved to find things that were broken or discarded and transform them into something beautiful and cherished. She loved to write and has reams of books filled with beautiful musings and poetry. Jeaneen also loved to sing, she always had a song on her lips and her family never tired of hearing her beautiful voice.

Her passion for finding and creating beauty extended to nature. Each year she created a wonderland of flowers and plants on her patios and decks for herself and her family to enjoy. Her favorite pastime was sitting on her lush deck in the early morning talking to the birds and communing with God.

Jeaneen had a wonderful joy in the Lord all her life and loved to share it with others. She never met a stranger. She made a special effort to always remember everyone's name and story and to bring them joy through her caring and interest. She cared ceaselessly for her whole family, always putting others first and hardly sparing a second thought for herself. Her beautiful smile and extraordinary care will be deeply missed.

Jeaneen was preceded in death by her parents Hershel and Cora Martin and sister Cora Elizabeth Baker. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Arnold "Butch" Siirla of Worland. Her three children, Candace Siirila of Worland, Jared and wife Leslee Siirila of Windsor, CO, and Larissa Siirila of Worland. Her siblings Hershel (Dianna) Martin, Barbara Johnson, Robert (Velma) Martin, James (Towanda) Martin, Bill (Rebecca) Martin, and Leatrice Martin as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday November 4th at Zion Church in Worland at 1 pm with graveside services to follow. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Worland Blessings in a Backpack Fund. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.