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(Aug. 7, 1935 - Jan. 8, 2012)
Kay Saralie Lohrenz Christopherson died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in her home in Shoshoni. She was 76.
Kay was born Aug. 7, 1935, to John and Montana Asay Lohrenz in Lovell, the second of three daughters. She grew up in Cody and Powell, where she graduated from high school in 1953.
The following year, Kay met a “spirited” young man from Meeteetse, Carl Christopherson. They married in August of 1954 and raised three children in various towns, mostly in the Big Horn Basin.
Kay held several jobs in her lifetime, including clerking in a grocery store, working with special needs children and driving semi truck. But her passion was writing. Kay never let one day pass without writing something — whether it was an article for a newspaper or magazine, a manuscript for a novel, a journal entry or a poem. Mentored by the dramatist and writer Gordon M. Wickstrom at Aims Community College in Greeley, Colo., Kay would go on to pen volumes of poetry over the years. Many were published, several were read to audiences.
Perhaps the role that brought Kay the greatest satisfaction was that of grandmother. Her four grandchildren were the most precious people in her world, matched only by her two great-grandchildren.
Kay is also remembered as a born storyteller whose razor sharp wit persisted through her final hours.
She is survived by her husband, Carl, of Shoshoni; daughter Joni K. (Roy) Prymek of West Jordan, Utah; sons John P. (Kelly) of Cheyenne, and Carl J. (Martha) of Salem, Ore; her grandchildren Sloan (Cara) Schrage of West Valley City, Utah, Amelia K. (Randy) Phetteplace of Cheyenne, Samantha S. Christopherson of Shoshoni and Christian Christopherson of Salem, Ore.; two great-grandchildren; and sisters Jean (Eugene) Stephens of Salt Lake City, Judy (Carl) Lind of Anchorage, Alaska, and Jana Lohrenz of Yuma, Ariz.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents, John and Montana Asay Lohrenz, and her beloved sister, Wilma Heiserman.
A memorial service was held Friday, Jan. 13 in Shoshoni.
Memorial donations may be made to Amedisys Home Health Care, Hospice in Riverton.
