Carl Vandorn

After a courageous battle with cancer, Carl B. VanDorn passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family on March 4, 2012. He was 61 years young. Carl was born in Craig, Colorado to George and Lucille VanDorn. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Powell, Wyoming where he was raised with his older half-brothers, Tom and Melvin, and his older half-sister Myrna. His family later moved to Casper where he graduated from Kelly Walsh High School. He soon met his loving wife, Gayle, and they were married in 1970. They attended Casper College for a few years, Carl focusing on his interest in journalism and photography.

The couple later moved to Laramie to attend the University of Wyoming, where Carl pursued a B.S. in Psychology. He then took a position in Phoenix as a news photographer for the local newspaper. Although he cherished the opportunity to do what he loved, he did not love the desert heat and he and Gayle quickly moved back to Casper. They began their family here, raising their only son, Benjamin, the joy of their life. While Gayle finished nursing school, Carl worked at Safeway while succeeding in his most important job as a #1 Dad.
He inherited a love for photography from his father and his grandmother Myrtle VanDorn. As this love for photography grew, Carl decided to start his own business. His talent led him from photographing family and friends weddings to taking T-Ball pictures. He eventually became a photographer for all types of Casper youth sports. He partnered with several organizations including Casper Youth Baseball, the YMCA, and the Boys and Girls Club. Nearly everyone in town with a child that played sports knew Carl. He always went the extra mile to make sure the kids had a smile, no matter how windy or cold it was outside. Many of the parents grew to be his friend, and through his work, Carl became a staple of the community.

Although photography was his day job, he also loved taking pictures in his free time. He and Gayle loved going to the Snowy Range, the Tetons, the Big Horns or Sunlight Basin where he captured gorgeous photographs of the Wyoming landscape. Carl was happiest out in nature with his wife, his camera, and his fly fishing pole. He and his son were also devoted Wyoming Cowboy sports fans, getting together to watch the big game as often as they could. Carl will always be remembered as a warm, caring, selfless man with a tremendous sense of humor. He always had a smile and a joke for everyone he came in contact with.

Carl is survived by his wife, Gayle, of Casper, his son Ben, of Portland, OR, his mother Lucille, of Casper, and his half-sister Myrna Martin, of Seattle, as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father George and his two half-brothers, Tom Wren and Melvin Wren, as well as all of his beloved dogs, Maynard, Ringo, Bogey and Murphy.

A celebration of Carl's life will be held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 at the Newcomer Funeral Home, 701 E. 2nd St, Casper, WY. Interment will follow at Highland Park Cemetery. Donations may be made to Casper Youth Baseball, P.O. Box 1966, Casper, WY 82602 or the Boys and Girls Club, 1701 East K Street, Casper, WY 82601.