Rena Starkey

Rena Starkey, age 103, passed away at a long term care facility in Loveland, Colorado. She lived a long and interesting life over the span of a century with all of the places she lived and all of the people she met along the way.

Rena was born in Sharon, Kansas and raised on a farm. Sometimes seeing old farm equipment, she would comment; “I remember those.” Her first job was milking cows for four dollars a week, out of which she had to pay some for room and board and sending some home, leaving little for herself.

She witnessed the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression of the 1930’s.

Rena married Frank Starkey in 1940. Since husband Frank worked construction, they moved around a lot, living in a number of towns in Colorado and Wyoming. Rena was a long time resident of Wyoming, living in Douglas, Casper and Lusk.

Rena loved the outdoors. She liked gardening, rock hunting, fishing, and was an avid hunter, bagging antelope, deer, elk and several moose. She did all of her own cutting and wrapping of the game.

During her life she had been a waitress, worked in a number of grocery stores and meat packing (Rocky Mountain Meat Co) and as a restaurant cook, both in Casper. She operated the Douglas Laundromat in the latter 1950’s.

Rena was preceded in death by husband, Frank Starkey; her parents; all of her siblings, (six brothers and one sister).

She is survived by son, William Starkey of Loveland, Colorado; three nephews; and three nieces.

Cremation burial will be at the Lusk Cemetery, Lusk, Wyoming, Saturday, June 10, 2017 with a graveside service, commencing at 1:00 pm, Chaplain Garry Roggow officiating. A reception will follow at the Elks Club at 602 S. Elm Street.

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