Carolyn Hepner

Private family services for Carolyn Kay Hepner, who passed away surrounded by her family in the early morning hours of September 15, 2024, will be held at a later date. Memorial donations in her name may be made to the St. Francis Animal Shelter at 109 Flat Iron Drive, Buffalo, Wyoming 82834. Online condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com. 

Carolyn was born on July 18, 1953, in the small town of Buffalo, Wyoming to her parents Robert and Roberta Heppner. Her parents welcomed her home to meet her eldest brother, Chuck and eldest sister, Valerie. Not too long after, came the birth of her little sister, Loretta.

Growing up, she moved to and lived in numerous towns within the states of Wyoming and South Dakota due to her father’s career in the oil field. Carolyn went to various schools growing up. She attended kindergarten at Lamont Elementary school in Lamont, Wyoming. In Lead, South Dakota, she went through her remaining elementary years. When she turned 10, her mother and father welcomed their fifth child, Bobbie, into the family. Shortly thereafter, she was introduced to her baby sister Colleen. When she was 22 years old, she met the love of her life, Bruce, in Casper, Wyoming. They had two daughters, Christy Lee and Jessica Rae. As her girls were growing up, they lived in Calhoun, Georgia, and then Benton, Arkansas. Bruce and her later moved the family to Rapid City, South Dakota, where they made their home until 2007. They then moved back to Buffalo, Wyoming, where they lived until her death.

She watched as her daughters raised their own families, and gracefully embraced the titles of “Uma, Marshmallow Face, Gramma Mouse and Gramma Green”. She loved nothing more than being in the presence of her family, dear friends, nature and her spirits. Carolyn was a bright light in the darkest parts of our universe. You could always count on her for spiritual guidance, removing that toxic energy, a good pressure point session, and WITHOUT FAIL- an inappropriate joke or two, to embarrass even the most stoic of personalities; as we all know, Carolyn WAS her own best friend…

Carolyn is survived by her life partner, Bruce. Her daughters Jess and Christy (Scott) Heusted. Grandchildren Noah, Liam, Kaylee, Brynleigh, Great granddaughter Opal, sisters Valorie and Colleen (Mike), brothers Chuck (Sally) and Bobby (Kelli), and multiple nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Roberta and Robert Heppner, sister Loretta, son-in-law Aaron, granddaughter Arianna, and great-grandson Misha.

Carolyn was loved beyond belief, and she never failed to share that love in return. There will most definitely be a void in the lives of all who cared for her, but we know that she will not fail to make her presence known…even now.