Shirley Flynn

Shirley Elaine (Smith) Flynn passed away peacefully on December 8, 2013 at the Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne, WY. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 1908 Central Avenue, Cheyenne, WY. Shirley was born on February 7, 1929 in Spokane, Washington to the late J. Edward Smith and Ethel Valentine (Grammer) Smith. Her parents returned to the Rocky Mountains to manage the family farm in Longmont, CO in the early 1930s and then moved to Cheyenne in 1940 when Mr. Smith purchased the Cheyenne Steam Laundry. Shirley graduated from Cheyenne High School, attended Monticello College and graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in history. She returned to Cheyenne to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. She met her future husband, Lloyd A. Flynn (1928-2002), who was stationed at Warren Air Force Base. Shirley and Lloyd were married at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on January 28, 1952 just prior to his deployment to Okinawa, Japan. They returned to Cheyenne in 1955 and the two quickly became immersed in the community and the activities of their three children. Shirley began her association with Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) in the mid-1960's by serving as a volunteer during the time her late husband was a member of the CFD Committee. Her interest in historic preservation was kindled during this time. In 1968, to commemorate the centennial of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Cheyenne, she wrote her first book, Our Heritage: 100 Years at St. Mark's. Her interest in the history of the West intensified in the 1970s when she owned The Wigwam Shop, a souvenir and gift shop in historic downtown Cheyenne. Shirley was a member and secretary of the founding board of directors of the Old West Museum and served two terms on the board before serving as the museum's director from 1987-1991. She was a member of the building committee that oversaw the expansion of the Vandewark Wing, which was completed in 1992. She also helped establish the museum's major fundraiser, the Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show and Sale. One of Shirley's personal contributions to the Old West Museum was taping and transcribing oral interviews with participants of the rodeo and night shows, which she then donated to the permanent collection. Researching, collecting and writing about the legendary rodeo and its impact on Cheyenne became Shirley's passion. For the 100th Annual Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration in 1997, she wrote Let's Go! Let's Show! Let's Rodeo: The History of Cheyenne Frontier Days. She donated all proceeds from the sale of the book to the Old West Museum. This book remains the definitive history of the rodeo. Additionally, as a member of the Cheyenne Historical Preservation board, she wrote Cheyenne's Historic Parks: From Untamed Prairie to a City of Trees. In partnership with her longtime friend and colleague, William (Bill) Dubois, she wrote the history of the Plains Hotel and We've Worked Hard to Get Here: The First 100 Years of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, which features the histories of many local businesses. Shirley was extremely well read and loved history because people fascinated her. She had a unique knack for bringing their stories to life and explaining how and why these people were special and the events were important. For this reason the media, other authors and producers of documentaries frequently called on her as a source of local history. She was particularly well known for her public speaking and presentations about Cheyenne history to local school children, civic groups and historical societies and her lively radio commentary of Frontier Days Parades. She was an active member of many organizations, including the W-Heels, a group of women who stage the historic carriage segment of the CFD parades; Cowgirls of the West; the CFD Buckle Club; Women's Civic League; P.E.O.; and the American Contract Bridge League. She was a member of Cheyenne's Historic Preservation Board from 2000-2011, and served on the board of the Cheyenne Little Theater Players and on the Laramie County Memorial Hospital Foundation (Cheyenne Regional Medical Center). Shirley received two prestigious local awards. In 2004, she was inducted into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame. In 2008, she was awarded the "Spirit of Cheyenne" Community Service Award presented annually by Cheyenne's daily newspaper, the Tribune-Eagle. Shirley's work extended beyond Wyoming. She was a member of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in which she held national office overseeing Gunston Hall, a National Historic Landmark and the home of American patriot and leader George Mason, located in Mason Neck, Virginia. In 2009, in recognition of her distinguished service to The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, she was named to its Roll of Honor. Shirley was also an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 2012, she received the DAR's highest honor, the DAR National Preservation Medal, reflecting her lifetime commitment, both locally and nationally, to historic preservation and history education. In addition to her professional and volunteer accomplishments, Shirley was a loving and devoted wife and a supportive and active participant in the lives of her three children. She loved to travel, particularly internationally, and regretted never traveling across Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railroad. In recent years she honed her competitive bridge skills and received her Life Master designation. Her community will remember her for her generous and lasting contributions. Her many, many friends will remember her indomitable zest for life and her love of great conversation and good chardonnay. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 50 years, Lloyd A. Flynn, by her brother John Andrew Smith, and son-in-law, Timothy J. Hauser. She is survived by her sister, Carol Shafer (Jack Shafer) of Simi Valley, CA; brother, Marshall Smith (Mary Guthrie) of Cheyenne; her three children: Carol Rush (John Rush) of Fort Washington, PA, Kathryn (Kay) Hauser (Shaun Donnelly) of Washington, DC, and Lloyd Flynn of Riverton, WY; five grandchildren and one great grandchild. The family requests no flowers and suggests memorial contributions be made to Shirley's beloved Old West Museum, 4610 Carey Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001, or Gunston Hall c/o the National Society of Colonial Dames in America, 10709 Gunston Road, Mason Neck, VA 22079. Arrangements are entrusted to Schrader Funeral Home in Cheyenne. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.schradercares.com

Service

Tuesday, December 17, 2013 10:00am

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

1908 Central

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Interment

St. Mark's Columbarium

Cheyenne

CHEYENNE, WY