Jack Leigh Showalter

Jack Leigh Showalter, 94, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 in Laramie, Wyoming. Jack was born on Tuesday, April 9, 1929 in Fairbury, Nebraska to John Baker Showalter and Addie Grace (Wright) Showalter. He had an older sister, Leah and younger brother Max.

Jack spent his early years on the family farm south of Fairbury and attended public school and Fairbury Junior College where he excelled as an athlete in track, basketball, and football. Up until the past couple of years Jack still held the high school high jump record after more than 70 years.

After college, he and a couple of buddies moved to Bayard, Nebraska to work in the sugar beet factory. On one of his return trips to Fairbury, in 1948, his buddy, Dale and he went to the roller-skating rink in Helvey, Nebraska, where Dale met his cousin, Patty Lou Shane. As they were skating Patty decided the way to meet this handsome guy Dale had brought with him was to fall down in front of him. The gentleman he was of course, he picked her up and as the story goes the rest was history. They continued with their friendship/courtship and wrote back and forth for several months. During the blizzard of ‘49 mail started collecting and letters were lost or all finally arrived at one time. Jack continued to work in Bayard and Patty, still living with her family in Lusk, Wyoming met each other several times over the next few months. In November of 1949, they decided to meet in Alliance, Nebraska where Patty and her family were at the annual bull sale where Patty and siblings were showing their cattle. They decided they should get married that weekend. Patty’s dad, Jim said they couldn’t do that because of the bull sale and they said, fine we will just get married ourselves. Little did they know they needed a license. In those days though they could get her parents’ permission. So, after a day of selling bulls, they gathered the family, a few close friends, and a friend who performed the ceremony they were married that evening and remained that way for almost 75 years.

After living for another month in Bayard, they moved to Lusk where Jack worked for Paul Heiney’s garage. In early 1951 Jack, along with close friends, Bill Smith and Kester Akers, enlisted in the United States Navy and were soon sent to boot camp in California. Because he had experience as a crane operator, they put him in the Seabees and was sent to Guam. While their, Patty was able to join him where their daughter, Pam, was born in 1954. After returning in 1955 to Lusk, Jack went to work for the Wyoming Highway Department where he worked for 35+ years. Their son Scott, was born in 1956. Jack started as a surveyor and over the years became a District Engineer before retiring. His job took him from Lusk, to Laramie, then Torrington and Douglas and finally Casper.

After retirement, he and Patty traveled first for a few months and then snowbirds living in Casa Grande, Arizona for 26 years. They traveled to 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, golfing, fishing, camping, and being with family. Jack was involved in everything including 4-H leader, baseball and football official, National High School Rodeo Committee, Congregational United Church of Christ member, choir member, Douglas City Council member, Lions Club, Moose Club, American Legion, Wyoming State Fair Committee, Douglas Community Club Member, Douglas Booster Clubs, Cowboy Joe Club, Wyoming football season ticket holder since 1962.

Jack was committed to watching as many of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren’s, sporting events, school programs and activities as absolutely possible, even driving back from Arizona for a week just to watch regional and state basketball tournaments. He never missed an opportunity to enjoy time with his family. There was nothing Jack wouldn’t try and was usually the first to try it. In later years, his yard was his pride and joy when he couldn’t travel as much and loved his zero-turn lawn mower and keeping his yard immaculate.

Jack is survived by his wife, of 74 years, Patty, his children, Pam (Tim) Stamp of Laramie and his son, Scott (Carrie) Showalter of Rogersville, Missouri. He is also survived by his 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; sister-in-law, Bonnie DesEnfants; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Carmen Shane. In addition, he is survived by 22 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; sister; brother; infant son, Ricky; and brother-in-law, Billy.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, June 14th, 2024 at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Douglas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Douglas Senior Center, P.O. Box 192, Douglas, Wyoming 82633 or the Congregational United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 122, Douglas, Wyoming 82633 would be appreciated by the family.

The Gorman funeral Homes-Converse Chapel of Douglas, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com

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