Virginia "Dede" Merritt

Dede Hayes Merritt, a 3rd generation, true Western Cowgirl and a dying breed, was born September 30, 1927, into deep Wyoming ranch roots, and passed away Wednesday, May 18, 2011, in Life Care Center of Cheyenne. Her Grandfather Hayes, coming from Elko, Nevada with a herd of good horses to homestead east of Thermopolis, WY in 1886, brought with him the VH Brand. Her Grandmother Sliney was born at Fort D.A. Russell (F.E. Warren) and later homesteading in the Owl Creek Mountains near Thermopolis. Dede was so proud of her heritage and most proud of her parents, Buster and Alice Hayes, who were of remarkable character and integrity and passed this on to their two girls, Dede and Connee. Dede was raised for knowing and riding good horses, as her father and grandfather created a herd of mares that Dede talked about often. She would get emotional talking about the site of those horses with the color, muscle and bone! Dede's mother was an elegant and loving woman who taught Dede the style of dress, poise and elegance. Dede was born with a genuine interest in people....wanting to know everyone in Wyoming and what they were about. It was Dede's calling to set precedence for this mix of class and cowgirl. Dede went on to Thermopolis H.S. as a cheerleader and drum majorette. She and her sister sang harmony at many community events and through the years. She went on to UW and was a Cheerleader, UW Rodeo Queen and in Kappa Kappa Gamma. She met Hyde Merritt when going with her dad to rodeos when she was 12 years old and told her Mom she would marry him some day. Sure enough, in 1950, they married and started their ranch west of Cheyenne. She had Chip in 1951 with Heidi, Randy and Lory to follow. Her ranch life and her children filled her heart and life. Many a 4-H Party, Ranch Roping or Big Feed she and Hyde would host; There was fun to be had and work to be done.......establishing a Boys Ranch, bringing the National Finals Steer Roping to Laramie with the help of Pete Burns and Jim Roush, making WY Steer Roping possible; she and Vee Hageman starting the Miss Rodeo Wyoming Association and was involved with the Wyoming State Legislature for 25 years, as well as establishing Shy Annie's Dress Shop ---- When Hyde died in 1983, Dede pulled up her cowboy boot straps, sold the ranch and moved to town. She carried on a full life with her family and going to every dance she could with her wonderful companion, Bob Dornblazer. Dede loved life, people, dancing every dance, Wyoming, a good cowboy, good horses, cowboy boots and hats and clothes, the WYO Bucking Horse and most of all her family. She was unbelievably proud of her kids and 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren--passing down her character, integrity, class, horsemanship and love of family and friends. Dede died with a full heart of knowing she had given" her all and lived life". SHE WAS THE BELLE OF THE BALL! A memorial service will be conducted on Friday, May 27, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. at the Cheyenne Hills Church with Guy Landers officiating. A reception will follow at the Holiday Inn off of South Greeley Highway in Cheyenne. Cremation is under the direction of Schrader Funeral Home. Expressions of sympathy in Dede's memory may be made to www.chancephelps.org which supports families of deceased soldiers.

Service

Friday, May 27, 2011 1:00pm

Cheyenne Hills Church

7505 U.S. Highway 30

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Reception

Holiday Inn

Off of South Greeley Highway

CHEYENNE, WY 82007