Margie Lorene Richmond

Margie Lorene Richmond, 99, of Cheyenne peacefully died at 5:30 Monday morning, March 18, 2024, at Cottonwood Creek Memory Care in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Born March 8, 1925, in Oakley, Kansas, the only daughter of Esther (Brittian) and Loren Hancock. When Margie was seven years old, her parents divorced. She and her mother came to Cheyenne in 1936 when she was eleven, here she attended elementary and high school. With her marriage on February 28, 1942, in Goodland, Kansas to Lester Richmond, a service man, the Army sent them to California and Oregon.

After Lester’s discharge from the Army, he entered the trades as a stone mason and together they traveled to and lived in several Wyoming cities to follow brick construction work before returning and settling in Cheyenne around 1952. They were blessed with four children, beginning with a son, Jimmy George, followed three years later by a daughter, Jonie Louise. Six years later came a son, Jerry Lester, and eight years after Jerry a daughter, Janette Esther. They built a home on four acres of property at 5606 Del Range Boulevard back then in 1957 the property was known as Route2, Box 867. They moved into the house on the first of May 1959 just before their daughter, Janette was born (May 29th), where Margie lived until 2019.

Margie was employed over a span of 46 years. Her employment included full and part-time positions. In her earlier years she was employed at the Princess Theater to manage concessions. The following employment included Cal’s Restaurant and Bowling Alley as a Maître d', Deluxe Cleaners as a presser, Frontier Refinery as a secretary, and Wyoming Highway Department Road Design division as an Assistant to the Road Engineers where she retired in 1986 at the age 61. She was also a very inventive entrepreneur with her crafts and artistic talents. Margie was a happy and caring person, taking life as it came, winning her an abundance of longtime friends. Margie was also a member of the American Legion, Post 6.

Margie enjoyed an abundant of activities and interests; her top six being:
Dancing: (ballroom, and square dance). Trips to Lakeside Amusement Park where their children could run and get on rides, she and Lester enjoyed themselves on the dance floor. They were members of a square dance club in Cheyenne. Once on the dance floor it was difficult to get her off, she would dance the night away!

Flower Gardening: beds with tulips and other annual and perennial flowers; outside planters filled with geraniums and inside pots with a variety of house plants. With her artistic talents, she once painted Indian images on clothing and was commissioned to produce these articles for local individuals. Her crewel embordering designed delightful wall art.

Frontier Days & Rodeo: For over 35 years she held sixteen season tickets for the Semi and Final days (2 days), sharing her love for rodeo with her children and grandchildren. Hosting her out of town children at her house for sometimes the whole week of Frontier Days.

Traveling with friends and/or family to casinos in Las Vegas, cruises; trips to Mexico with girlfriends; visits with grandson, Jimmy in Mississippi; New Orleans for Mardi gras with daughter, Jonie and son in law, Kenny; Parasailing in Mexico with friends and much more. Wintering in Arizona with her two daughters was a treasured annual event as well as shopping with her son, Jimmy. She enjoyed a good cocktail, her favorite being rum and coke. Later in her life she appreciated attending Mass services with son, Jerry, and daughter-in-law Cindy.

Hospitality and love of her children and grandchildren: There was always room at Margie’s “inn” with good eats as Margie had a variety of recipes that she was always ready to prepare for her guests. You would not leave her house without nourishment. And she always showed interest and support for her children and grandchildren. Son, Jimmy’s interest in the Kian Indian organization plus involvement in the Frontier Days Parade. Daughter, Jonie’s partaking in GAA track & field and the Cheyenne Saddle tramps. Son, Jerry’s participation in rodeo plus baseball, even playing the catcher to allow him to practice his pitching. Daughter, Jan’s involvement in 4-H, where they would sew together and the delivering of 100’s of girl scout cookies over the years.

When Margie’s thought process and memory detreated in 2019 to the point that she needed assistance she first moved to her son, Jerry’s home. Then in 2020 on November 10th she became the second resident at Cottonwood Creek Memory Care Center where she lived until her death this year. True to her nature, she fostered friendships with other residents as well as the staff who cared for her temporal, emotional and spiritual needs. Before her death, she held the rank of oldest resident in age and residence!

Margie was preceded in death by her father, Loren; mother, Esther, who died in 1977 also on March 18th (a Friday) at the age of 74; her husband, Lester who died July 29, 1981 at the age of 61; her eldest son, Jimmy who died June 5, 2013 also her eldest daughter, Jonie who died on September 22, 2022 and lastly her son-in-law, Kenny Clark (Jonie) who died June 9, 2023

She is survived by her son, Jerry (Cindy) Richmond of Cheyenne; daughter, Jan (Mitch) Holloway of Tempe, AZ; daughter-in-law, Joyce (Jimmy) Richmond of Wilcox, AZ; grandchildren: Jimmy’s children, Jeff Richmond, Jimmy Richmond Jr., and Jennifer Hoover. Jonie’s son, Darin Clark. Jerry’s children, ShuRee Richmond, Jeret Richmond, and Matt Pholman. Jan’s children, Jason Holloway and Garet Holloway. Her legacy includes seventeen great-grandchildren, and two great great-grandchildren.

This is only a brief history of Margie’s life. A great life, a good legacy, and now an eternal reward with God whose gift is eternal joy.

Visitation will be Wednesday, March 27, 10-5, at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel.
Services will be Thursday, March 28, 2024, 10:00 a.m., at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel with burial to follow at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens.

Songs, Stardust (Nat King Cole); Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head (BJ Thomas), and Eyes Have Not Seen (Notre Dame Folk Choir)

Friends may make contributions to St. Jude Children’s Hospital