Curtis Starr Higby, aged 65, born January 8 1957 in Riverton, Wyoming passed away in his home on the evening of January 19, 2022. He was born the 4th child while the family lived on a small ranch on the Nowood river an hour and a half from Riverton. Curtis went to school in Lander, Wyoming. In 1983 he married Susan Rakestraw and had two children; Andrew and Emma Higby. Curtis is survived by his two children, his sister Alison Arnold, his brother Reed Higby, and his stepmother Helen Higby. He is joining his father Larry Higby Sr., brother Larry Higby Jr., and mother Mary Jones who went before him.
Curtis led a life of hard work, integrity, and outdoor adventure throughout the states of Wyoming and Colorado. At the age of 18 he worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School driving food, students, and horses all over Wyoming. He spent many seasons as a hunting guide and horse wrangler. He worked as a seismograph crew chief and worked for many years in the oil fields in the USA and in Arabia. He had an oil well flow test business and a metal stress testing business that boomed and busted with the oil market. Later he worked with Mick McMurray as McMurray developed fracking technology. He also worked for the Jackson Hole Sheriff’s department and later for the Lander PD. His shooting and academic records at the police academy were legendary.
These many experiences informed his colorful wit and kind heart. His greatest love was the outdoors and wildlife. When he was in the field hunting, be it with a rifle or camera he was in his true element. He was a seasoned outdoorsman who learned from some of the best educators in the country and was happy to impart that wisdom to any who asked. In later years he fell in love with gardening and spent his days transforming the grounds of his apartment into beautiful flower beds to be seen and enjoyed by both residents and passersby. When he wasn’t out working in his garden he enjoyed regaling family and friends with stories of the Higby family adventures, trying new cooking recipes, and caring for his animals. He was always eager to share whatever he had with his community and loved ones, from tomatoes from his garden to the best places to go to get an elk. Resourceful, hardworking, and quick-witted, Curtis was a true Wyoming cowboy and a hero to many in his family. He will be loved and missed.
A service will be held for him on Thursday, February 3rd at 10 am in the St. Matthews chapel on Ivinson and 3rd. Anyone is welcome to attend and there will be a small reception afterwards. If you would like to honor his memory please consider donating to the following charities in his name: Laramie Soup Kitchen, The Eppson center, Laramie Interfaith, and Feeding Laramie Valley.
I lived in the apartment building next to Curtis’ for a year and a half. I was going to school at UW for my master’s and Curtis helped make my time in Laramie so special. He always greeted me with a happy smile, dirt on his hands from working the garden, and an endless amount of stories. His garden was truly fantastic and it provided a calm, peaceful place for me to escape to during my studies and at the height of COVID. I remember when he brought home an elk and offered to show it to me. I expected a small cow, my jaw dropped when I saw a bull elk with a beautiful rack. I couldn’t believe this old man brought this elk back from the field! He stood proudly next to it while telling the story of his hunt. I heard of his passing today. I cried upon seeing his face in his obituary. He was a good friend and a good man. I’m thankful for all his long rants about shortcuts to Tensleep through dusty Wyoming backroads, his family history, his daughters paintings, and his love for wildlife. True Wyoming cowboy, like they said. My heart goes out to his family and his sweet Darla. I will miss you on my visits to Laramie, Curtis!
Reed, Allison, Helen, and the rest of your family I was shocked when you sent the Facebook notice about Curtis. I remember Curtis at the Lander house and during the Junior Prom dance in 1974. I pray that you will be comforted by our Father in heaven during this time.