Thomas Lee Cardwell

Thomas Lee Cardwell, 33, went to cowboy heaven on Feb. 27, 2014. Tom was born January 10, 1981, in Casper, WY to Robert Cardwell, Jr. and Sharon (Weaver) Cardwell. He attended Alcova Elementary School, Dean Morgan Junior High and graduated from Natrona County High School in 1999. Tom attended Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture on a rodeo scholarship and graduated in 2001. After college, Tom returned home to be involved in the family ranch.

He married his wife, Heidi Laurel Herz of Casper, WY on September 16, 2006 after meeting in Las Vegas. The couple later welcomed Bristol Jean, 4 and Reagan Leigh, 8 months.

He was enthusiastic in his cowboy way of life and ranching. Early on he was a member of the Leo Cowpokes 4-H Club and Casper FFA, where he participated on Judging Teams and showed livestock. His rodeo career began with the Casper High School Rodeo Team, qualifying for the National High School Finals Rodeo in Bareback riding. While there, he received an award for placing in the top four in the first round. His rodeo time spent at NCTA fine-tuned his bareback riding skills, and he spurred his way to the top of the Nebraska and Wyoming Rodeo Associations. As a member of the PRCA, he fulfilled his goal of riding at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

In 2012, Tom and his family moved to Lusk, starting to ranch on their own, a lifelong dream. Still wanting to be involved in rodeo, Tom joined the Boot Heel 7 Ranch Rodeo team. The team qualified for the State finals and Tom was proud to win the Top Horse Award on a horse he had trained. Tom's love for horses was evident in the time he spent training and riding his own horses and those of others.

Tom is survived by his wife, Heidi; daughters, Bristol Jean and Reagan Leigh of Lusk; parents, Bob and Sharon Cardwell of Alcova; sister, Brenda (Clayton) Williams and their children; nephew, Zade and niece, Hannah, all of Rolling Hills; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.

Tom was preceded in death by his grandparents and two uncles.

Services will be held March 6, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds in Lusk, WY.

Pier Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, scholarships have been set up for Tom's girls, Bristol and Reagan, at the Lusk State Bank, P.O. Box 1400, Lusk, WY 82225-1400, or to a memorial of your choice.

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