Born April 2, 1942, in Denver, CO, Jeanne was married to Gene Bryan, and the couple had resided in the Del Webb @ Rancho del Lago community in Vail, AZ, since June 2009. They were former residents of Cheyenne and Cody, WY.
Jeanne is survived by her husband, and children Lynne (Rick) Boomgaarden, Cheyenne; Kristy (Phil) Camaro, Montague, CA; Cheryl “Sue” (Tim) Frank, Loveland, CO; Gerritt (Kari) Rap, Wake Forest, NC; Matt (Sharon) Bryan, Deer Park, WA; Brent (Nora), Glendale, CA and Laney (Paul) Clark, Tenino, WA. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, sisters Judy (Robert) Stevens, Janesville, WI, Marilyn (Gary) Parker, Fort Shaw, MT and Leanne Baker, Worland, WY.
She was preceded in death by her mother Ruth McDonald, father Ford Baker, step-father John “Bud” Hughes, brother James Baker and first husband Grant Rap.
Jeanne graduated St. Mary’s High School, Cheyenne and earned an associate’s degree in gerontology from the University of Wyoming. Her eclectic professional career included 22 years with Mountain Bell as an operator, data analyst and mid-level manager. Following retirement at divestiture, she entered into a career of social and senior service (Foster Grandparents, Meals on Wheels, Wyoming Independent Living, AmeriCorps) interrupted by two-plus years service as executive director of the Wyoming Centennial Commission, which is where she met her future husband who was director of the Wyoming Travel Commission. She also worked for the Cheyenne Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. When the couple moved to Cody, she worked for Blair Hotels and concluded her working career as administrative assistant for the fledgling Forward Cody economic development agency.
Those are the hard facts about a life well-lived, but they only begin to reflect the vibrant, zestful, life-loving, care-giving individual she was. She had three passions: Family (first and foremost), photography and travel. She loved her far-flung family. Period. End of discussion.
Rarely did she not have a camera in her hands. She relished shooting rodeo from the small towns of Kaycee, WY and Sonoita, AZ, to Tucson, Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Las Vegas. Jeanne and Gene co-managed the Wyoming Tourism Office “Team Wyoming Rodeo” program for a short period, and Jeanne earned a well-deserved reputation as a master of the “Wrangler butt shot” with the cowboys and bullfighters at the annual Team Wyoming NFR Breakfast. She even cajoled a retiring Cowboy State governor to pose. Flowers, wildlife (big and small), landscapes (mountains and deserts) and especially moon shots and sunrises and sunsets were frequent subjects. Gene estimates they have at least 928 moon shots.
Thanks to Gene’s position as Wyoming state travel director and later as a member of the
Wyoming Tourism Board, the couple were blessed with the opportunity to travel the United States, several European countries and a life-enhancing trip to China.
Music, especially anything by Willie Nelson, was a near-constant companion. She loved college basketball and baseball, live theatre, Native American art and her dogs—bloodhounds, Maltese, dachshunds and the last—”Mr. Miller.”
Longtime friend Dan Miller summed her up for family and friends: “There was only one Jeanne.”
Cremation has taken place, and Jeanne’s meaningful, well-lived life will be celebrated July 10 (Wyoming Statehood Day) in Cheyenne. Details to follow. For those who wish, the family recommends a donation in her memory to the St. Joseph’s Children's Home in Torrington, WY or a charity of your choice.
SHARE OBITUARYSHARE
v.1.15.0