Kristi Manzanarez

Kristi Lyn Manzanarez, 48 of Casper, passed away peacefully on June 1st after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Kristi was born to Jeanette and Leroy Carabajal on August 9th, 1975. She attended Kelly Walsh High School and graduated in 1994.

In October of 2000, she met Angie, the love of her life. On August 26th 2006, Kristi and Angie had a commitment ceremony with family and friends, but later became legally married on October 22nd, 2014, the anniversary of their first date. Kristi worked for Boise Cascade for many years before their closure in Casper. In the fall of 2011, Kristi took a break from work to become the caregiver of “The Granny” Manzanarez, a tall task for those who knew Granny, but Kristi jumped in with no questions asked. She would later assist in being the caretaker of several of her own family members, as well as Angie’s family. In 2012, she was accepted into the Nursing program at Casper College, and graduated in May of 2014. She worked at the Wyoming Medical Center for a few years, where she met some of her greatest friends in life who stayed in touch throughout the years. After leaving Wyoming Medical Center, she found a new home at Casper Dermatology, where she continued to grow lifelong friends until cancer forced her resignation three weeks before her passing.

Kristi was a music lover of all types and frequently played music every morning while getting ready for work and while cooking dinner. She would never pass up a Kenny Chesney, Pink, Tim McGraw or Bon Jovie concert. Her other love in life was sports. There was always a rivalry between her and Angie, as Kristi was a lover of the Denver Broncos and the LA Dodgers, while Angie was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Braves. October was often a big month in the Manzanarez home and often times they would have to watch the games in separate rooms. Secretly Kristi was a Cowboys fan but never gave up her love of the Dodgers.

Every year for quite some time, Kristi and Angie would go to Las Vegas every summer to spend time with friends who became family and the Harranarez family was formed. They frequently went on vacations, baseball games, and concerts together, or just spent time together playing games.

Kristi enjoyed spending time with family and friends, whether it was bowling, camping, picnics, outdoor games, or just a meal together. She made friends all along the way that would become lifelong relationships and bonds. Her beautiful smile would light up a room and her contagious laugh will be deeply missed. To know her was to love her.
Kristi is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Bob & Verona Goff, paternal grandparents, John & Angie Carabajal, adopted grandparents Jesus & Felipa Manzanarez, along with several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is survived by her loving wife Angie, mother Jeanette (Chuck) Brando, father Leroy Carabajal, sister Kerry (Darius) Carabajal, her beloved nieces, and many family members and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, to share memories, great music and great food, at Kristi’s request. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Rocky Mountain Oncology Angels Program, Central Wyoming Hospice or a local pet shelter of your choosing.