Michael Vernon Farrens

Michael Vernon Farrens (1955-2024) passed away the early morning of August 20th at the age of 69 after a battle with cancer. Mike was born in Cheyenne on June 1st, 1955 to Alfred and Ramona Farrens. His early childhood was spent with his parents and others establishing Cheyenne Dragway south of town. The family moved from living in town to south of Cheyenne in 1965. He spent many hours building model airplanes and cars, riding Grandpa Stolp’s tractor while he planted the field in front of the house, working with his horse and having water fights with his sisters.

He was active in Boy Scouts and Civil Air Patrol. In high school he was involved in FAA, and East High Junior ROTC. Mike received several awards and promotions in ROTC. He graduated as a Cadet Major. Mike was also an artist but found his calling in drafting and architecture classes in High School. He won “Outstanding Achievement in Drafting” in 1971 and “Certificate of Merit in drafting” from the Wyoming Industrial Arts Fair in 1971 and 1973. He was also known in the drafting group for always drawing Aardvarks on his drawings, maps and any other blank paper. He also made a clay model of an Aardvark that stayed in the East High drafting rooms for at least another 15 years.

Mike always wanted to fly, especially the fighter jets. He applied to the Air Force Academy but was turned down. So he applied to the University of Wyoming enrolling in Civil and Architectural engineering, Philosophy and Air Force ROTC. While in the UW Air Force ROTC program he received a “Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Contributions and Service” in the 940th Cadet Group AFROTC. During the 1976 Bicentennial his squadron dressed up a minute men and marched in several parades including Cheyenne Frontier Days.

In August of 1977 Mike received an “Honorable Discharge” from the Air Force. The explanation that he received was since the Vietnam War was over the Air Force no longer need pilots. Mike started his working career as a parts counter person with Downtown Auto Parts in Laramie. In May of 1979 he was offered the position of Parts Instructor/Parts Staff at Wyoming Technical Institute, WYO Tech. He enjoyed teaching as well as learning how to paint a car. That is where he picked up a 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am. The wreck was rebuilt by the students and painted. He designed a new bird for the hood of the car and he helped paint the new bird on the car.

Around 1980 Mike purchased one of the early Ultralight planes. He spent many weekends at the Laramie hanger doing touch and goes in the fields until he got the hang of it and the air currents around Laramie. He also went to a few “Fly-ins” held in Steamboat Colorado. He obtained his Individual Achievement Award for Solo hours logged in 1983. During this time, he also finished and passed the FAA ground school pilots examine. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association for many years.

Mike and his wife moved to Green River, WY in 1989. In Green River he worked for several parts dealers, and obtained certification as an ASE Automotive Parts Specialist and BASF Automotive Paint Technician. While in Green River he also pursued his love of drafting and when to Western Wyoming Community College taking AutoCad drafting passing with an A. While working in the part stores he also started a drafting service business.

In 2000 his wife’s vocation and desire to be neared to her parents took them to Grand Rapids Michigan. Once in Grand Rapids the marriage ended. He chose to stay in Grand Rapids while his adopted child was growing up. Years later Mike ed turned his attention back to his love of cars, philosophy, music and getting his life ready for his last move—retirement in Cheyenne.

Mike is preceded in death by his mother Ramona Farrens; father Alfred Farrens; two cousins, Tammie Stolp Kile of Leavenworth KS and Robert T Caton of Cheyenne. He is survived by his sisters Diana Farrens (Dan Trammell) of Denver CO; Janet Fugate (David) and Mary Ann Farrens Hay of Cheyenne WY. He is also survived by several cousins and three nephews, three nieces and one great nephew.