Barbara Henrie

At her request, no services are planned for long-time Casper resident, Barbara Lee Henrie, 94; who passed away peacefully on January 1, 2012 at Life Care Center.

Barbara was born on a major holiday and died on a major holiday. She was born Barbara Lee Barnes of Canton, Ohio on July 4, 1917 to Cable and Mariellen Barnes. In her teens, she and her mother came to Casper to seek employment and to join her Aunt who was Principal of McKinley Elementary School. She worked for a time at the candy counter at Woolworth's and then attended the University of Wyoming where she met her future husband, Wayne Lamar Henrie. The couple were married in Green River, Wyoming in 1939, and moved to Jackson, Wyoming where they lived until 1941 when they relocated to Casper. It was in Jackson, that their first son, Monte Lamar, was born. In 1942-45, Barbara worked at the Casper Hospital until her husband's return from service in the Navy; after which he was a foreman at the Socony-Mobil Refinery of Casper. In 1948, a second son, Steve, was born.

For several years, Barbara and Wayne were an inseparable Casper real-estate team, wherein Barbara would design houses and motels and Wayne would contract the construction. It was a lasting collaboration, with the duo constructing or remodeling over 36 houses and two motels in Casper. They also developed a large parcel of land Northeast of Evansville, WY, near the Platte River, which is still known today as Henrie Ranchettes. A Street, Henrie Road is named for the success of the project. Barbara and Wayne were also developers of many real-estate properties in the towns of Riverton and Glenrock, WY, where they designed and built the Lariat Motel.

After a time away, visiting and contracting building projects in Macomb, IL and Bull Head City, NV, they returned to Casper in their retirement, where they were active in the lives of their sons, and grandchildren.

Barbara was known for her droll sense of humor and loved a good joke. She loved the color blue and planted flowers of that color. She loved all things western, especially going to the ranch of her stepfather in Glenrock. She is remembered as a woman of intelligence and dignity, always curious about things and fond of discussion. She was an avid reader and had knowledge of many subjects, especially western history, which became infectious to her eldest son.

Besides her work in real-estate, her interests were mainly her five grand-children whom she supported in all things. Barbara was also known for her generosity to her family, but she was always wisely frugal. She was a business woman all her life and she loved the challenge.

Barbara is survived by her three half-brothers, Bob, Dean and Dan Barnes; and two sons, Monte L. Henrie Sr. of Casper and Steve W. Henrie of Mesquite, NV; four grandchildren, Monte Henrie Jr.; Markay Elmore; Dace Henrie, all of Casper; and Shawna Hibbler, of Cheyenne. She also has seven great grandchildren. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, her beloved mother, father, and step-father, and one grandson, Stevie D. Henrie.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of Newcomer Funeral Home, with interment in the Oregon Trail Veteran's Cemetery.