Patty L. Showalter passed away peacefully on June 22, 2026 in Laramie, WY. Patty was born on October 21, 1930 in Fairbury, Nebraska to J.C. and Irene Shane. She had two younger siblings, sister Bonnie and brother Jimmy.
At a very early age Patty’s family moved from NE to Node, WY where they lived and worked on a ranch. Patty attended country school in a one room school at Node and then moved to a little apartment in town to attend high school where she graduated with honors in 1949 from Lusk High School. In 2024 Patty attended her 75th class reunion along with 4 other classmates. Patty was also a 10-year member of 4-H, where she won several awards including a trip to the Denver Stock Show and was a delegate to the National 4-H Congress in Chicago.
After high school, Patty continued to live in Lusk but went on a family trip back to NE where she met a friend of her cousins, Jack Showalter at a neighborhood dance and roller-skating party and they soon became a couple. They continued to correspond until Jack moved to Bayard, NE for work. Patty, still living with her family in Lusk, and Jack met each other several times over the next few months. In November of 1949, they decided to meet in Alliance, NE where Patty and her family were at the annual bull sale where Patty and siblings were showing their cattle. Together they decided they should get married that exact weekend. After a day of selling bulls, they gathered the family, a few close friends, and a friend who performed the ceremony; they were married on the evening of November 12, 1949 and remained that way for nearly 75 years.
After living for a short time in Bayard, they moved to Lusk where Jack and Patty both worked. In early 1951 Jack, enlisted in the Navy and following boot camp was sent to Guam. While there, Patty was able to join him where their daughter, Pam was born in 1954. The family returned in 1955 to Lusk, and their son Scott, was born in 1956. Patty took a job as a telephone operator. Due to Jack’s employment the family moved from Lusk, to Laramie, then Torrington and then finally Douglas where they remained for 51 years, until ill health forced them to move back to Laramie to an assisted living home.
After retirement from her job as a licensed insurance agent, Patty and Jack traveled for a few months in the winter ultimately settling as snowbirds in Casa Grande, AZ for the next 26 years. They continued their travels and visited all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. Their highlight of traveling was a 3-month trip to Alaska with Patty’s sister and husband Bonnie and Billy. They enjoyed every single day of retirement, traveling, camping, working at the resort store in Casa Grande, going to many shows and events at the resort, attending sporting events and being with family. She was a member of various Douglas Booster Clubs, Cowboy Joe Club, and a Wyoming football season ticket holder since 1962. She was an avid fan of the Douglas Bearcats, Wyoming Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills and the New York Yankees.
To know Patty was to love her. Her life was full of love, laughter, and adventures. Together Patty and Jack made countless memories and had unwavering love for each other and their beautiful family that they built together. Patty cherished her husband, 2 children, 11 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. All had a very special place in her heart. Patty was a passionate sports enthusiast especially when it came to her grandchildren and was committed to attending as many of their sporting events, school programs and activities as possible, even driving back from AZ for a week just to watch regional and state basketball tournaments. She never missed an opportunity to enjoy time with her family.
Patty had an uncanny ability to remember everyone’s birthday, always sending cards to arrive on the exact day of the event. She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and generous heart.
Patty is survived by her daughter, Pam(Tim) Stamp of Laramie and her son, Scott(Carrie) Showalter of Rogersville, MO. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Cory Eisenbarth, Amy Hubbard(Steve), Travis Showalter, Melissa Sofinowski(Mike), Karessa Atkins(Eric), Cami Rhamy(Daniel Martinez), Garrett Showalter(Carrie), Jana Rivord(Eric), Kacie Mulligan(Phillip), Bridger Bailey and Jackson Bailey(Katie), sister, Bonnie DesEnfants, brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Carmen Shane in addition to her great and great-great grandchildren. Patty was preceded in death by her husband, Jack of 74 years, her parents, infant son, Ricky, brothers-in-law, Billy and Max and sister-in-law, Leah.
Cremation has taken place, and family and friends are invited to celebrate and share stories of her beautiful life at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 8 at the Prairie Hills Community Church in Lusk, WY. Memorials may be made to Enhabit Hospice of Laramie, Edgewood Assisted Living in Laramie or to the Congregational United Church of Christ in Douglas.
