Roy Lougee

Roy Edwin Lougee of Torrington, 67, died July 16, 2009 in an automobile accident in the Black Hills. A funeral service will be held at 1:30pm in the chapel at St. Joseph’s Children’s Home in Torrington, internment will follow at Prairie Rest Cemetery in Guernsey. A luncheon open to all will begin at 12pm, hosted by the staff at St. Joseph’s. A viewing will be held on Monday from 3pm-7pm at Colyer Funeral Home in Torrington. Roy was born to Anna and Homer Lougee in Guernsey, WY on December 26, 1941. He was raised in Morrill, NE where he graduated from high school. Roy joined the Army after attending the New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and served active duty in Vietnam. He married Vicki Tinsley of Guernsey in 1964. After returning from Vietnam they lived in Petaluma, CA where Roy completed his Army service. He earned bachelor and master degrees in education and counseling at Chadron State College and began teaching high school in Douglas. Roy and Vicki lived in Douglas with their three sons for the next 12 years. After a few years of teaching, Roy began working for Russell Lumber and Construction as general manager. He was a city councilman and very active in Jaycees and a member of the United Methodist Church. In 1983 Roy opened a construction and lumber yard business in Wright. After four years he moved to Evanston to begin his career as a Certified Social Worker and Counselor at the State Mental Hospital and YAHA Group Home. In 1993 Roy and Vicki returned to Eastern Wyoming where they both began employment at St. Joseph’s Children’s Home in Torrington. Roy was the director of the newly created Newell Center and continued serving the children of Wyoming and Nebraska until his death. He took great pride in working with children and was very dedicated to his work at St. Joseph’s. Roy also loved the panhandle region and found great satisfaction in returning to his roots. Roy was an avid photographer dedicating entire vacations to photographing beautiful landscapes of America. He recently made two such journeys, one to the Southwest and another to the coast of Maine. Roy’s final hours were spent photographing Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills of South Dakota. He also enjoyed gardening and woodworking, making birdhouses, wishing wells and other decorative items for family and friends. Roy was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Vicki, his nephew, Brigadier General Thomas Tinsley, mother-in-law Thelma Tinsley, brother-in-law Dennis Huston and parents Anna and Homer. He is survived by sons Darren of New York City, David and his wife, Beth of Upton and Michael and his wife, Heidi of Casper and six grandchildren, Matthew, Derek, Carson, Parker, Braden and Draper, sisters Ruth Couse and Alice Hagemeyer and in-laws Delton and Sandy Tinsley, Marlene Huston and Ted Hagemeyer. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established for St. Joseph’s Children’s Home, PO Box 1117, Torrington, WY 82240.

Roy Lougee

December 26, 1941 - July 16, 2009