Wesley Ray McKenney

Wesley Ray McKenney, 83, died Sept. 25, 2024 at his shop in Gillette, WY. Funeral services are at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 4, followed by inurnment at Mount Pisgah Cemetery. Wes was born March 22, 1941, in Clovis, NM to Ray and Leona McKenney. He spent his early childhood years in the Trinidad, Colorado area and eventually moved with his family to the Colorado Interstate Gas plant near Elkhart, KS. He worked with his childhood buddies on their dad’s family farm doing chores and bailing hay. He graduated from Elkhart High School in 1960 where he had played football and basketball. The oil boom was on, so he started roughnecking on area drilling rigs and worked in all positions to become a driller. He married Carolyn Ketchum in Elkhart, and they had a daughter, Roxanna Renee. When they divorced, he went to work for Kerr McKee overseas and became an offshore rig driller. Wes was then drafted into the Army and served one tour of duty in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star with V Device. When he returned to the states, he moved to Gillette and worked for various drilling contractors during the boom era. He married Claire Strid on Jan. 24, 1969, and made a home together for their four children. Wes drilled oil and gas wells throughout the Rocky Mountain region. He supervised construction of drilling rigs for two contractors and served as tool pusher and drilling superintendent. Wes was a drilling consultant on oil, gas and methane wells including H2S. During this time, he was also an independent water hauler, cementer, paint contractor, car salesman and over the road owner operator. Wes helped his sons build race cars and sponsored amateur motorsports in Wyoming, Colorado, North and South Dakota and Montana. After he retired, Wes enjoyed his shop projects, weekly card games and spending time with family and his faithful dog, Lugnut. Wes is survived by his wife and children Roxanna Swonger (Dave) and sons Mitch Nairn (Briana), children Jameson and Audrey and Nick Nairn (Krista) and children Braxon, Jordan and Jaxon; Wesley Ray McKenney, Jr. (Kristin) children Alex and Paul Vincent (Krystal) children Elliot and Isla; Laura Jean Shedden (Bill) children Alexa, Connor and Hannah (Braden Everson), daughter McKinley; Jennifer Lynn McKenney, children Alec, Clayton and Bradee; and Jeffrey Lloyd McKenney (Cori), children Sienna, Parker and Emma. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Kathy McKenney and her family as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, brother Darrel and sisters Phyllis and Verla. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to VFW Post 7756 Auxiliary for its veteran relief fund in care of Marilee O’Rourke at 1800 Knollwood Drive Gillette, WY 82718.