Joann Madeline Mcconnaughey

Joann M. McConnaughey, 93, passed away November 16, 2023, at Life Care Center of Cheyenne. She was born to Edward F. Small and Helen M. Small (Martin) on June 16, 1930, in Laramie, Wyoming. She grew up in Laramie – 3rd generation. She was always the tallest one in class. 1st grade she was “grandaddy long legs” which improved to “The Tall Small” which she was known as all thru school. Surprisingly, she was never a tom boy – did the girl things. Grew up in the Shirley Temple era – so everyone wanted a cute little Shirley Temple so she took dancing lessons, but music was never her strong suit – she was the one that they told to stand in the back row and move your mouth.
Joann always liked school which was always fairly easy. She had a friend whose mother thought she ought to make her summers “useful” so Joann would take some summer school classes with her. Then, her sophomore year in high school she was complaining about how boring high school was and her friend’s mother said, “well why don’t you go to college, and I thought, “why not”!! She had extra credits here and there and she figured she could do it if she went to summer school in Boulder, so she took off that summer and went to Boulder – stayed in a boarding house and entered college that fall. It was a great idea, but the timing was lousy. It was 1946! All the vets were coming home from WWII and heading to college on the GI Bill.
The size of the University of Wyoming doubled in size. The size of the classes the housing facilities and the student body was older. She enrolled in Pre Med II – a snap course. Well, If she thought she didn’t “fit in” in high school she really had to scramble to keep her head above water at college.
She graduated at age 19 from Pre Med- but all the Medical Schools were scrambling with all the big influx of students, so she didn’t get to med school!! Well, that was ok, she have been working at Ivinson Hospital as a Med Lab tech and then they needed an X ray tech, so she become their X-ray department.
Well, that fall a cute, smart, funny fella started working as a surgical orderly. They got to know each other working on call with accidents, etc, etc. They went to a Christmas hospital party and we were married on Maundy Thurs that following year.
Her husband, John (Jack) McConnaughey, was a college junior, in ROTC and the Korean War was in full swing so they figured he would be called up as soon as he graduated so they might as well get married then rather than waiting.
Being Jack’s wife was the beginning of her education. He taught her history, geography, photography, wood working, social concerns, jewelry making, languages Japanese and Thai, and she taught him the Episcopal Church. Joann was a lifelong member of the Episcopal church, serving on altar guild for over 50 years.
Jack was stationed in Tennessee at Middle Tennessee State University for four years and where they both got master’s degrees but more importantly they were able to adopt two children John (Jay) and Janet. They taught us how to be parents.
With Jack in the Army, they moved often, 19 times in 20 years. It’s not like living in the same neighborhood all your life. They were each others first friend. They loved to dance, travel, be together, take chances together, enjoyed sports.
Joann was proceeded in death by her husband of 48 years, John (Jack) McConnaughey, son, John (Jay) McConnaughey, her parents, brother and sister-in-law, Martin and Loretta Small, brother-in-law, George (Flip) McConnaughey, and nephew Martin H. Small.
Joann is survived by her daughter, Janet McConnaughey of Laramie, sister-in-law, Shelia McConnaughey of Casper, nieces Margaret (Meg) Small of Fort Collins, Sarah (Ryan) Larsen of Evansville, nephew, Jeff (Jen) McConnaughey, many cousins, great nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers, contribution may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Cheyenne or St. Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral in Laramie.