Richard Andrew Middleton

Funeral services for Richard Andrew Middleton, 81, will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday, January 12th, 2024 at the Gorman Funeral Homes - Converse Chapel in Douglas, Wyoming with Pastor Tom Strock officiating. Interment will be in the Douglas Park Cemetery. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, January 12th from 10:00 A.M.- 1:00 P.M. Fellowship and refreshments will be provided at the Douglas Senior Center immediately following the service.

Richard Middleton passed away at his home in Douglas on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024.

Richard was born at the White Lilly Court in Douglas, Wyoming to James Oscar and Marie Elizabeth (Daniels) Middleton on Wednesday, July 8th, 1942. He was raised on the family ranch on Middle Creek 63 miles northeast of Douglas, Wyoming. Richard was the youngest of seven children raised on the ranch. He spoke often about the challenges and privileges of being raised on a ranch where hard work and self-sufficiency were the rule rather than the exception. He said he was raised at the best place on earth. Richard attended first grade in a one room country school which was located on the Middleton ranch. He later attended Douglas High School until he was “invited” to finish his high school career at Lusk, Wyoming. Richard often credited that change as having a positive impact on his life.

After high school, Richard joined the United States Army and served in Alaska for three years. His two favorite stories included being in an earthquake and skiing down a double black diamond run without having any skiing experience. He wiped out and both skis flew down the ski run without him. He injured his leg but was unable to tell anyone in the barracks because he would have been in trouble for doing something so reckless.

Richard spent most of his working years doing road construction and then later working at North Antelope Coal Mine where he worked until he retired.

When Richard wasn’t working, he enjoyed fishing, camping, and traveling with his children and grandchildren. Being a kid at heart, his grandchildren were drawn to him with his endless knock-knock jokes, funny stories, and playful energy. They loved their grandpa.

He was preceded in death by his sister Lois in 1940, his parents, James on February 21st, 1986 and Marie on June 22nd, 2006; brother, Joe on May 5th 2020; brother James “Bud” on August 5th, 2022, and son Tommy on December 29th, 2022.

He is survived by his sons, Curtis (Jeania) and Travis (Ruth) Middleton; daughter in-law, Angie Middleton; grandchildren, Brittany, Josie, Taylor, Blake, Sydney, Shane, and Emmy; and great granddaughter, Bonnie; sisters, Ethel and Rita; brother, Ben; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be John Anderson, Charles Anderson, Travis Middleton, Blake Middleton, Curtis Middleton, and Beto Amador.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Ranchers Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the Converse County Bank, P.O. Box 689, 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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