Lora Amie Hayden

Funeral Service for Lora Amie Hayden will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 2, 2013 at Walker Funeral Home in Gillette, Wyoming with Pastor Gordon Harper officiating. Burial will follow service at Mount Pisgah Cemetery also in Gillette. Visitation will be Sunday, December 1, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Lora Amie Hayden, age 82, a longtime Wyoming resident and Campbell County rancher, passed away Sunday, November 24, 2013 at Pioneer Manor of natural causes. Lora Amie Hayden, known as Amie, was born July 13, 1931 to Dent and Oran Floyd at their home at Echeta. Amie was born an identical twin to Cora Rose who died at the age of 2. Their Aunt Carol delivered the first baby, but the doctor, who had to come from Moorcroft, delivered the second one.Amie attended school at Echeta through 8th grade. She graduated from Campbell County High School in 1949 and attended the University of Wyoming where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1953 with a degree in Elementary Education.While in college she was active in the Chi Omega Sorority and student government. Her sorority sisters remained dear to her always. She was also on the nationally ranked UW rifle team. Her team finished 2nd and she brought home 4th place individually. She went on to teach her own children how to shoot, often using Magpies for target practice. After college Amie got her first teaching job in Sheridan where she taught for a year's time. Amie married Doyle "Bud" Hayden on June 17, 1954 at the First Presbyterian Church in Gillette. They lived for a short time south of Gillette. In 1956 they moved to the Fortification Creek Ranch west of Gillette into the old Roy Montgomery ranch house that Amie's father, Dent, had purchased in 1950. They didn't have electricity or running water at the ranch and used a crank phone until 1958 when they got a party line.Amie and Bud started taking hunters in 1957, first for the extra needed income and then because of the old friendships that they developed, many came year after year and now bring their children and grandchildren. Although Amie welcomed hunters, she forbid them from shooting her favorite buck (Bambi) that lived in her yard for at least forty years. She loved to bake, and is pretty famous for her delicious cinnamon rolls.In 1966 Bud and Amie Purchased part of the ranch from her parents. They had three children: Troy, Kerry and Lora. A rural school was established on Fortification Ranch for their children where Amie taught them for 3 years. They finally got electricity that year, and gravel roads a year later.They purchased the rest of the ranch from Dent and Oran in 1973. Bud and Amie purchased a house in Gillette in 1984, but remained at the ranch until Bud passed away in 2004. Amie split her time between the ranch and town after that, moving to town full-time in recent years. However, she always kept her hand in the ranch, still owning cattle at the time of her death.Amie led an active life. She was a member of the Campbell County Cow-Belles/Cattlewomen and P.E.O. Chapter V, holding every office in both organizations. For many years she also served as an election judge and Republican Committeewoman. Hobbies she enjoyed were crafting, drawing, knitting, needlepoint, latch-hook, painting, as well as writing poetry, stories and histories about family and ranch life. She kept a diary most of her married life. She also liked putting puzzles together, playing the piano and collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia and teddy bears. Her children and grandchildren were her greatest joys, and she spent many hours watching all 8 of her grandkids participate in rodeo, football, basketball, cutting, track, 4-H, dance and many other activities. If her grandkids were competing she was there, be it in Gillette, Powell or any town in between.Amie is survived by her children: Troy (Peggy) Hayden of Rapid City, South Dakota, Kerry (Stephanie) Hayden of Gillette, Wyoming and Lora (David) Winninger of Powell, Wyoming; six grandsons: Barry (Charity) Hayden, Ryan (Connie) Hayden and Burton (Amanda) Hayden, all of Gillette, Mark Hayden of Portland, Oregon, Eric (Jamie) Hayden of Stephenville, Texas and Nate Winninger of Powell; two granddaughters: Heidi (Nick) Werbelow and Lacy Winninger, both of Powell. She also is survived by 11 great-grandchildren: Kaylee and Keyton Hayden; Hunter, Joe and Cody Hayden; Dylan and Emma Hayden, all of Gillette; Dean, Vance and Edmon Werbelow; Tristin Winninger, all of Powell; her sister Bonnie Clabaugh and numerous nieces and nephews.Amie was preceded in death by her husband Bud; her parents, Dent and Oran Floyd; two sisters: her twin Cora Rose Floyd and Carol Jean Knapp. A memorial has been established to Hospice of Campbell County or to a charity of the donor's choice. Memorials and condolences may be sent to the family in care of Walker Funeral Home at 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be sent via their website: www.walkerfuneralgillette.com Funeral Home:Walker Funeral Home410 Medical Arts CourtGillette, WYUS 82716