Raymond Chester Runyon

Funeral Service for Raymond Runyon will be 2:00p.m. Friday, March 21, 2014 at New Life Wesleyan Church in Gillette, WY with Pastors Billy Wilson and Wes Smith officiating. Burial will take place at Mount Pisgah following the services. Visitation will be 4:00p.m. to 6:00pm. Thursday, March 20, 2014 at Walker Funeral Home. Raymond Runyon, age 62, of Gillette, Wyoming died Saturday, March 15, 2014 at his home of cancer. Raymond (Ray) Chester Runyon was born December 26, 1951 in Olney, Illinois, to Roscoe and Juanita (Harmon) Runyon. He graduated from Olney High School in 1970 and shortly after received a draft notice from the Army during the Vietnam War. He chose to enlist and in 1972 Ray went to basic training in Fort Campbell, Kentucky and then served two years in Berlin, Germany as a medic. Ray was honorably discharged in 1974. He then went to college, attending Olney Community College in Olney and University of Illinois in Springfield, receiving a degree in Human Services. After moving to Casper Wyoming in 1978, Ray was hired on at Wyoming Machinery Company (Caterpillar) in 1979 in Casper and later transferred to Gillette in 1985. He continued to work there for a total of 32 years, enjoying the job and the people he worked with. Ray always enjoyed the outdoors, whether it be hunting, fishing in the Bighorns, hiking or biking in the Black Hills, or running and walking on the bike trails in Gillette. He spent much time with friends or by himself doing the things he loved. In 1990, he married Rebecca Sperr and they made a home together in Gillette. They welcomed a daughter, Jessica in 1996. They took several trips here and there, but one trip that changed his life forever was a tour of Israel and Jordan shortly after they were married. Seeing the land of Jesus birth was so meaningful to him. Another trip that had much meaning was just recently to Alaska, a lifelong dream fulfilled. In October of 2011, Ray suffered a stroke which was later determined to be caused by a cancerous brain tumor. He spent the last two years fighting to regain the ability to walk and talk again with the same determination that he did when he was hiking in the mountains or running a marathon. His faith in the Lord kept him strong and sure. Ray felt he lived a good, full life and had no regrets.He is survived by his wife, Becky Runyon; daughter Jessi Runyon; mother Juanita Runyon of Olney, IL; sister Maxine Tarpley of Albion, IL; brother Calvin Runyon of Hempstead, TX; niece Lisa Eagleson of Woodstock, GA and all those who called him friend. Ray is preceded in death by his father Roscoe Runyon of Olney, IL.A memorial has been established in Ray's name to benefit a college fund for his daughter. Memorials and Condolences may be sent in his name to Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be sent via our website at www.walkerfuneralgillette.com Funeral Home:Walker Funeral Home410 Medical Arts CourtGillette, WYUS 82716