Carol Loyer

Carol Ludwig Loyer died in her sleep on November 30 in the arms of her husband, Bill, at the age of 73. Carol was born on December 5th, 1939 in Laramie to Dr. Walter B. Ludwig and Lottie Svenson Ludwig. "Doc" and Lottie owned and operated Ludwig Photography, originally Svenson Studio. For over 50 years, Carol fought the ravages of multiple sclerosis, and was later struck with osteoporosis breaking over 20 bones. She always had an optimistic outlook and encouraged many others with MS to never give up but to take what you are given and make the most of it. Growing up in the family business had a profound effect on Carol. She shared a deep love of the West and it's people. After watching the Jubilee Days parade and seeing Miss Jubilee for the first time, Carol knew what she wanted to be. As 1951 Colorado Wyoming Westerners Queen, Miss Laramie Jubilee Days 1961, and then first-runner up to Miss Rodeo Wyoming she realized her girlhood dreams. As a young girl, Carol worked as the only female hand at the Laramie stockyards caring for and loading cattle and sheep on and off the railcars. She also worked as a young adult on the Flagg Ranch. She graduated from Laramie High School in 1957. She earned degrees from the University of Wyoming in sociology and anthropology with a minor in art. Carol would often visit her neighbor Dr. William Mulloy, world renowned archeologist, which ignited a lifetime passion for archeology. While at UW, Carol worked on the Hell Gap Site, the Woolly Mammoth dig near Rawlins, and the Lindenmeier Colorado Site under the direction of Dr. George Agagino. While at UW, Carol was also active in music, a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, Rodeo team barrel racer, Outdoors Club and the Mountaineering Club. She was part of the crew that cleaned up the ill-fated 1955 United Airlines Flight #409. She was also a member of the UW Ski team, competing in women's slalom, and was a ski instructor at Winter Park. Carol performed as a folk singer and entertainer to finance her skiing passion. She was a certified life guard, an accomplished figure skater, fly fisherman, sports car racer, Luscombe 8 pilot at Brees Field, a crack shot rifleman, loved cracking bull whips, blowing cow horns, writing poetry, shooting archery and rappelling from Half Acre Gym. Carol was one of the first women mountaineers to climb Devils Tower. Carol seemed to fill a room with energy, humor, and laughter. Under the direction of Robert Russin, James Boyle, and Richard Evans, Carol did graduate studies in art and sculpture including work on Russin's Lincoln Monument. Additionally she studied art at the National University of Mexico in Mexico City under Guillermo Castano, a protégé of noted artist Diego Rivera. While in Mexico she was honored to instruct Maria Stain, a featured soloist at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. She married Bill Loyer of Dallas, Texas, in Laramie on June 30, 1963. For their honeymoon, they toured Europe for a month, after which they settled in New Jersey. Carol was active in Greater New York art circles and was a teacher and advisor to the Middlesex County School System and Girl Scouts of America, as well as a featured artist in numerous art shows in the New York metropolitan area. Carol moved back to Wyoming to serve as vice president of Ludwig Photography in Cheyenne and Laramie, a job she held for over 40 years. She served on the Cheyenne Artist Guild Board, Kappa Delta Sorority Board, was president of Cheyenne Pan-Hellenic, a member of the Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile, Virginia Dale Community Club and stage station restoration, Cowgirls of the West, and Hotsie Totsie Red Hat Ladies. Carol loved her family and animals and took great pleasure in the time spent with them at the family ranch in Virginia Dale, CO. She is survived by her husband Bill Loyer; her daughter Anne Brande and her husband Even; and grandchildren Emily, Laura, and Nicholas of Laramie. Memorial Services will be on Tuesday December 10th at 10 A.M. at the First Presbyterian Church, Cheyenne. A celebration of Carol's life will be from 1:30 - 3pm Wednesday December 11 at the Brande home on 812 Grand Ave in Laramie. Memorial contributions can be made in her honor to the Wyoming/Colorado MS Society, 2112 Evans Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001 or Virginia Dale Community Club, 844 CR 43F, Virginia Dale, CO 80536.

Service

Tuesday, December 10, 2013 10:00am

First Presbyterian Church

220 W. 22nd St,.

CHEYENNE, WY 82001