Arleen Roberta Carr

Arleen R. Carr, 84, of Casper, Wyoming died Sunday, September 25, 2022.

Arleen Roberta Carr (Mom or Granny) was a breech baby being born April 28th, 1938 in Willamantic, Connecticut. We found it kind of odd and funny that her, being the eldest, her first born, Tammy, and Tammy's first born Jamie, were all born breech. It was an ongoing joke that we all had an excuse for doing things backwards, cause that's the way we entered this world. Mind you, we didn't do that many things backwards. Arleen met Don Carr (future husband) when he attempted to catch a fly ball Arleen had hit and fell backwards into a sewer drainage on a meadow. They dated and were married her senior year of high school in Casper, Wyoming in early October 1956; Arleen graduated from Natrona County High School in the spring of 1957. Don and Arleen lived at the B. B. Brooks lower CY ranch where Don and his father, George, both worked and raised their families.

Arleen loved ranch life and Don's mother, Elberta Carr, taught her to be a wonderful cook. She prepared many yummy ranch meals for many ranch hands and her family and often got to help with some of the ranch chores.

Her spare time often found her down in the trees, along the river at what was known as the picnic area. She loved wildlife and was an avid birdwatcher, also was a member of the Audubon Society. She had bird and squirrel feeders hanging all around the picnic area where there was a wonderful view of the river and all the wildlife, and birds that occupied and flourished with it. I don't think there was a bird around that she couldn't identify and describe.

On her notorious adventures through the trees, she often found the home of a Mama coon with babies and at just the right time would raid the hollowed-out tree and steal herself one or two babies with their eyes still shut. Of course we all got to partake in feeding and caring for these adorable little critters, but let it be known these little cuddle bums can get pretty ornery with age. On one of the cradle robbing's, Mama Coon was at home and came out of that tree and tried to eat Granny Arleen's lunch.

Arleen was also part of the rifle team in high school and a deadeye shot. It was nothing for Arleen to bring home rabbit for supper and won many competitions.

Arleen and Don raised three children, Tammy (Mark), Kathy (Gary), and Clay, which in turn Tammy and Kathy gave them seven grandkids and eleven great-grandchildren.

Arleen loved to read great children's books; and books in general were often her gifts to grand and great-grandbabies and adult family members as well. She even tried her hand at writing a few children's books and took several courses in writing.

Boy did Arleen love to dance; as well, and with Don having his own band, "The Ranch Boys," she got to do quite a lot of dancing with everyone as Don was often singing and playing music. She was quite the jitter-bugger and taught her kiddos to dance in the kitchen, and in turn they taught their children to dance in their kitchens. A couple of her favorite dancin' tunes were Bad Bad Leroy Brown and Bop with Me Baby All Night Long. She always had such a look of pleasure on her face when there was music involved or she was dancing. This great love of music was also passed on to grand and great grand babies.
Arleen loved the fall of the year. You could almost always plan on a trip to the mountain or Garden Creek to catch the Aspens in full golden glow. This often entailed a wonderful fried chicken picnic, a little hiking and perhaps throwing a few pebbles in the creek. In the spring, this often happened as well to catch all the wild flowers in bloom. She kept saying over and over "Oh look at the pretty flowers." She'd get so excited, always a smile on her face.

In the fall of 1985, we lost Don to heart failure at the young age of 49. This was a very hard time for Arleen and all of us. The family eventually moved Arleen to a nice little house at 304 South Sun Drive in Casper, where she started life over again. This change was very hard for her, and difficult to leave her ranch home of 31 years. She was able to sell her and Don's dairy/Christmas tree farm that they had purchased and paid for with the sale of Christmas trees on the Canadian border of Maine. They planned to move there after Don's retirement from the ranch.

After the family got Arleen settled in Casper, Arleen took employment with the Department of Family Services. She wanted to make a difference in the lives of abused or abandoned children. Arleen retired from DFS 20 years later, but then kept on working – this time with a check cashing agency (fast cash). While Arleen and Don were married she also worked at Corral West for around eight years, and also was a school aide at Glenrock's Grant Elementary School.

Arleen had many close friends that she cared deeply about. Verna Valentine and Pat Cheney being probably her closest and longest friendships. She also had two very close sisters, Mary Lou (Bob) and Cookie (Billy Dale), and two brothers, Frankie and Buzzy, whom she lost.

She truly enjoyed the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whether it be rocking them, reading to them, or going to their sports functions, graduations, or weddings. She loved to laugh and sometimes we would laugh so hard there would be an emotional breakdown and her come the tears, or, "Stop! I'm going to wet my pants!" memories…

Arleen's first and oldest granddaughter, Jamie, Tammy's first born and last of the three breeches, was very close to Arleen. After raising her own three children and going into nursing, Jamie and her children became very important caretakers and a support system to Arleen and her son, Clay. As Clay would say "she's acting like a brat" and "cantankerous" as he called her. All of Arleen's family have been very loved and important to her. She was such an inspiration and made such an impact in the lives of her family and friend around her. Her knowledge, class and stubbornly independent streak will forever be remembered and cherished.

We will miss her very much. At all family holidays and functions, the walls will roar with the exuberance of all she and Don created.

Arleen was preceded in death by her husband Don Ray Carr, her in-laws George and Elberta (Nana) Carr, her brother-in-law Billy Dale, and her brothers Frankie and Buzzy. She is survived but her 2 sisters Mary Lou (Bob) And Cookie (Dorothy). Her children Tammy (Mark) of Glenrock, WY, Kathy (Gary) of Spearfish, SD, and Clay of Casper, WY. Her grandchildren Jamie (Kelly), Jake (Kiley), Abby (Tom), Cheyenna, Pate, Austin, and Heather (Mike). Her great-children Lance, Trenton, Zoee, Jayden, Hannah, Jhet, Paysen, Olivia, Caleb, Isaac, Savannah.

It was per Granny's request to not have a traditional funeral service. The family is arranging a graveside service and a celebration of life to be planned at a later date.



She Is Gone

You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
or you can be full of the love that you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she is gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back…

Or you can do what MOM would have wanted:
Smile, Open your eyes, Love, and be kind.

…Until we meet again!!


Arrangements are under the direction of Newcomer Casper Chapel. To leave a special message for the family, please select the "Share Memories" option.