Enis Crofutt

Enis Crofutt passed away on Monday, November 11, 2013 at his home in Douglas, Wyoming. He was 88. Enis was born on April 17, 1925 in Lusk, Wyoming to Edith and Charles Crofutt. He lived with his parents and 8 brothers and sisters on the family homestead north of Lusk near Hat Creek. He attended the Buean Vista country school which was located on Sage Creek near the homestead. In May of 1938, a fire in the family home took the lives of his parents and a sister, Lois. The community came together and generously helped the Crofutt children rebuild the house, where Enis and his surviving 7 siblings continued to live for several years, with his oldest sister, Mildred ("Sister") as their caretaker.

Enis attended high school in Lusk and graduated with the NCHS class of 1943. After high school he started his first ranch job with George Story. In 1945 the family received the sad news that their brother, Keith, a member of the US Army, was killed while fighting in the Philippines. Enis worked in ranching for many years with his brother, Glenn and his wife Shirlee, on ranches in Niobrara County and near Lander. He also hauled fuel for the C&H Refinery in Lusk.

Enis married Barbara Towns in 1973 in Sundance, Wyoming. They made their home for a short time on the Blagg Ranch north of Lusk before moving to the Torrington area where he worked as a U.S. Government trapper. From there they moved to Jackson and then Afton, where Enis worked as an oilfield production worker for a major oil company.

Upon retirement, Enis and Barb moved to Douglas. He made woodworking projects and grew a huge garden every summer. Everyone who knew Enis could not help but be drawn in by his sense of humor and infectious laugh. He loved all animals especially his horses and many dogs he had over the years. On the ranch Enis always preferred the horses to a piece of machinery. This kind man will be greatly missed by his family.

He is survived by his wife Barb of Douglas and four step-children: Bob Towns of Douglas; Bonnie Christianson of Waynesville, Illinois; Brenda Woltz of Garnavillo, Iowa; and Becky Packett of Clinton, Illinois. Enis also leaves behind his sister, Iris Baughn of Lusk; brother Glenn and his wife Shirlee of Thermopolis; and sister Lola Leonard and her husband Sam of Carlsbad, CA. Enis was particularly close to his nieces and nephew, whom he helped raise: Diane (Crofutt) Winter of Thermopolis, Will Crofutt of Miles City, MT, and Cheree (Crofutt) Linford of Bakersfield, CA. All greatly mourn this loss.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Edith Crofutt, his sisters Lois Crofutt and Mildred Bryant, and brothers Keith, Gerald and Lawrence Crofutt.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, November 15, 3:00pm at the Gorman Funeral Home in Douglas.

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