A funeral service for Ruth Evelyn Kennedy, 81, was Sept. 8 at the First Christian Church in Wheatland with Pastor Casey Schroeder officiating. Interment was in the Wheatland Cemetery.
Evelyn Kennedy passed away Wednesday, Sept. 2 at her home on the Ranch east of Rock River, surrounded by her family.
Evelyn was born on Thursday, March 16, 1939 in Scottsbluff, Neb. the daughter of James Donald and Grace Evelyn (Eder) Sands.
Evelyn’s family moved to Casper when she was just two years old. She attended school in Casper and graduated from Natrona County High School in 1957. She attended colleges in York, Nebraska, Lipscomb Christian University, in Nashville, Tenn., where she also studied and sang opera, and then attended the University of Wyoming where she earned her bachelor’s degree in education.
Evelyn became a full-time rural teacher at the Prager School, Sturgeon School, and Willowcreek School near Kaycee in Natrona County.
She also did some rural school substitute teaching when needed.
Evelyn married Jerry Martin Kennedy in 1964. Together they owned the Dodge Creek Ranch where they ranched together bailing hay, calving, trailed cattle via horseback, truck, and 4-wheeler. She broke horses, hunted wild game, was an executive assistant for guided hunts, kept the financial records for the ranch, and cooked meals for her family.
She reported the weather for the Rawlins District BLM. Due to the importance of the weather station, the government installed a remote satellite station when she retired. Evelyn also dispatched for BLM at Dodge Creek Ranch station during wildland fires. Evelyn helped coordinate forest fire crews, she ran three radio systems, answered the phone and door, cooked meals for the firefighters, and delivered the meals.
Some of the clubs she belonged to were the Town and Country Garden Club, “Casper Garden Club,” and was a lifetime member of the Wyoming Federation of Garden Clubs, Republican committee woman for 54 years and attended most republican conventions, and was also a 4-H leader for the Stockman’s Club.
Evelyn is survived by her husband, Jerry Kennedy of Rock River; sons, Gary (Karri) Kennedy of Rock River and Marty Kennedy of Wheatland; grandsons, Carson Kennedy of Colorado, Colter Kennedy of Wheatland, and Jeremiah (Sarah) Rogers of Pennsylvania; great grandchildren, Kohen Rosh of Pennsylvania, John Rogers of Wisconsin, Tristen Rosh of Pennsylvania, and Kylee Rogers of Pennsylvania; and brother, Jerry (Judy) Sands of Oregon.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
A memorial to the Wyoming Federation of Garden Clubs, 905 West Fremont Avenue, Riverton, WY 82501 would be appreciated by the family.
Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland are in charge of the arrangements.
