Terry Gene Shanley

   Terry Gene Shanley, 69, died April 23, 2024, at Wyoming Medical Center, Casper, WY. Born February 11, 1955, in Denver, CO to the late Gene and Jewell (Stetson) Shanley, Terry grew up in Aurora, CO with his parents and six siblings. He enjoyed all things mechanical, Boy Scouts, the outdoors, music, dancing and playing sports (baseball, football, and wrestling).  In high school, Terry drove his parents crazy wearing out new sneakers in under a week playing handball. Terry was an Eagle Scout, graduated from Aurora Central H.S. in 1973, and later joined the USMC.

   Terry was a brilliant mechanic, rebuilding cars in his parents’ yard as a teenager while learning from his dad. In addition to his time in the Marines, Terry worked many years as either a mechanic or flooring installer in many states including Colorado, Nebraska, Connecticut, and Wyoming. He met his wife, Rita (Bunny), when installing flooring in Waterbury, CT. They married in 1990 and eventually moved back to Colorado because Bunny grew to love the Rocky Mountains as much as Terry did.

   After Bunny passed, on September 20, 1999, Terry eventually moved to Wyoming where he had worked on ranches in his younger years. He loved the wide open lifestyle where hunting, fishing, camping and target practice were out his back door. In Douglas, he especially enjoyed working as a mechanic for Roy and Carol Whittrock.  In the evenings Terry loved to toss one back while listening and dancing to his cherished full sized juke box. While in Douglas, Terry also installed flooring and met his girlfriend, Vivian Marshall.

   To his parents’ consternation, from a young age, Terry was stubborn, ornery, and knew what he wanted. He was also very bright. Terry read his family’s encyclopedia set in high school, remained an avid reader, had a keen sense of humor and a soft heart he worked hard to hide. He spent much of his spare time helping family, friends, and strangers. He cleared snow, weeds and grass and offered his handyman services for his family and for many in Douglas. He will be missed.

   Terry had a special connection with his three brothers (Len, Drew, Brian) and a nephew, Steven, who he loved as a brother. In varying combinations, they played sports, earned their Eagle Scouting Awards, worked together, lived together and were there for each other in good times and in hard times.  He loved to torment his sisters and had many laughs with his nieces and nephews.

   Terry is predeceased by his wife, Bunny; parents, Gene and Jewell (Stetson) Shanley; brothers, Len and Brian Shanley; brother-in-law, Ted Smith and grandparents, Orville and Anna (Soester) Stetson, Frank and Olive (Cameron) Shanley.

   He leaves his brother, Drew (Vicki Rising) Shanley; nephew Steven (Amber) Shanley; his sisters, Kris (Roy) Kanter, Jan Smith-Shanley, and Sharon (Hugh) Jopling; nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles.

   Terry has been cremated and preferred no services. He asked that friends and family wear their tie dyes, have a barbeque, and enjoy their families.