James Deal

There will be a celebration of the life of James Earl "Jim" Deal on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 2:00 PM in the First United Methodist Church in Casper, Wyoming. Jim was born January 3, 1931 in Lander, Wyoming. He grew up on the family ranch on the North Fork of the Popo Agie River. He graduated from Lander Valley Vocational High School in 1949, where he was a member of a state championship football team. After high school Jim enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. Upon being honorably discharged, he returned to the family ranch where he developed his love for riding bareback bucking horses. On July 4, 1950 in the Nobel Bar in Lander, Jim charmed Joanne Mae Cloyd away from another cowboy and on December 23, 1951 he married the love of his life. Together they lived a varied and exciting life, moving around the west working a number of different jobs including ranching and oil field work. Jim and Joanne settled in Riverton in 1960 where Jim worked at the Susquehana uranium mill. He was a member of the Riverton Jaycees and the Riverton Volunteer Fire Department. Jim and Joanne's three children had been born by the time the mill closed in 1963 and he moved his family to Laramie where he graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in elementary education. In 1966, Jim began the career that he truly loved. He taught at Stanton School in Laramie for five years before moving to Casper where he taught until he retired in 1991. While a teacher at Fairdale School, he was president of the Natrona County Education Association. In retirement he served as President of the Board of Directors for the Central Wyoming Senior Center, President of the Golden K Kiwanis Club, Chairman of the Eager Readers Program, and delivered for Meals On Wheels.
Jim's family knows that his greatest accomplishment was the care and support that he gave to others. His passion for his family was his guiding light throughout his life and his family was always his number one priority. He always saw and brought out the best in people and never met a stranger.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Doris (Lattimer) Deal, brothers Robert and Lloyd "Pete" Deal, and two infant siblings. He is survived by his wife Joanne; sister Ruth Moore; daughter LuDel Walter, her husband Mark Walter and their daughter Erika, granddaughter Holly Wrangell; son Larry Deal and his wife Tami Benham Deal and their son Gabriel, grandson Michael Deal; son Lance Deal and his wife Nancy Deal-Whitacre and their daughter Sarah Deal; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Burial services will be held next spring or summer. Please make memorial contributions to the Central Wyoming Senior Center, 1831 E. 4th St., Casper, WY 82601.