Kathryn Larson

There is one thing that dementia cannot take away, and that is love. Love is not a memory - it's a feeling that resides in your heart and soul. We said our longest and final goodbye to our mom, April 5, 2019, in Cheyenne, WY. Kathryn Evelyn Buckley was born April 15, 1938 in Crawford, Nebraska, to Emerson and Lillie Buckley. She was the third of six children, and the first to be born in a hospital. She grew up on the family ranch south of Harrison, Nebraska. Kathy graduated from Sioux County High School in 1955 and went on to earn her teaching certificate. She taught in Sioux County rural schools. She loved being a teacher and always talked about teaching her younger brother, Jack. She loved sharing stories of her childhood and her family that was so important to her. Kathy met the "best looking guy she'd ever seen" at a dance at the Buckaroo in Van Tassell, Wyoming. He asked her to dance and the rest is history. Kathy and Jack Larson were married June 5, 1960 in Harrison, Nebraska. They lived for a year on the Frank Parsons ranch near Harrison, and moved to the Magoon Ranch northwest of Lusk, Wyoming, in 1961. They raised their three daughters Lori, JoDee and Kris on the ranch. She was always very involved in her girls' lives, instilling a strong sense of family, friendship and love in them. Kathy and Jack lived and worked on the Magoon Ranch for forty years, before retiring and moving to Lusk in 2000. She was always very active and loved volleyball, baseball, bowling, sewing, gardening, painting and playing lots and lots of card games. She enjoyed playing the piano, organ and accordion. She was also involved in many community organizations. Kathy was an avid reader and always did the daily crossword puzzle. She was a great cook and baker and could host a dinner at a moment's notice. She had a way of making everyone feel at home and like family. She was the eternal optimist, naturally seeing the positive in every situation...to her, the glass was always half full. Kathy and Jack enjoyed traveling, playing cards, and above all, spending time with their girls and grandkids. She was always their biggest cheerleader. After losing Jack in 2009, she was never quite the same. Kathy moved to Cheyenne, WY in 2013 and lived at Aspen Wind - Memory Care Unit until her passing. Kathy was the kind of person we all aspire to be. She loved children and they were always drawn to her. The world is truly a better place because of her. She touched many people's lives not just as a friend or acquaintance, but as a kindred spirit. Kathy's legacy lives on through her daughters, Lori (Jerry) Ziemann of Cheyenne, WY; JoDee (Glen) Woolington of Burns, WY and Kris (Ray) Reeb of Windsor, CO. Grandchildren who loved and adored her are Drew Knaub of Sheridan, WY; Sean Knaub of Cheyenne, WY; Adam and Brandee Smith and Lark of Hailey, ID; Alyssa and Dustin Bowron, McKenna, Izzy and Jack of Kimball, NE; Landon Smith of Laramie, WY; Ty Reeb of Denver, CO; Spenser Reeb of Windsor, CO and Payton Reeb of Windsor, CO. She was blessed with devoted siblings who are true treasures: Edith Mack of Scottsbluff, NE; JR (Hazel) Buckley, Harrison, NE; Dorothy(Dale) Jordan, Lusk, WY; and Jack (Rowena) Buckley of Harrison, NE. She also has a large extended family who will continue to miss her dearly. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; parents, Emerson & Lillie Buckley, sister, Erma Barnes, father and mother-in-law, Warren and Charlls "Charlee" Larson and brother-in-law, Jim Larson. Kathy had a strong love of music, especially Country Music. Memorial contributions received will be used to benefit Aspen Wind's music program. Honoring Kathy's wishes, there will be no funeral service. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. The family would find comfort in cards or emails of how Kathy touched your lives. Please send to loriziemann@yahoo.com, jowoolington@hotmail.com, rkreeb@msn.com, or Lori Ziemann, PO Box 2813,Cheyenne, WY 82003 . ~The mind may not remember, but the heart will never forget.~