Obituary: Mary Lynne Richie Latham
August 28, 1959 - June 5, 2020
June 13, 2020
Mary Lynne Richie Latham, 60, of Clearmont, Wyoming passed away June 5th, 2020 at the Richie Ranch in Boulder, Wyoming. Her celebration of life will be held at the place she loved and called home; The Richie Ranch, with the ones she loved and called family.
Lynne Richie Latham was born on August 28th, 1959 in Sterling, Colorado to Jep and Barbra Richie. She completed her primary schooling in Pinedale, Wyoming and graduated in 1977. She participated on the cross-country ski team, but her real joy was found in participating in the FFA. She showed dairy cows for many years at county and state fairs and participated on the livestock judging teams.
From there she went to the University of Wyoming to follow her dreams of becoming an Agricultural Educator. During her first year of college she served as state officer for Wyoming State FFA. She completed her student teaching at Sheridan High School under Mr. Jim Bond and started her first year of teaching at Arvada-Clearmont High School after she graduated. Lynne was proud to be a pioneer as one of the first women Ag teachers in the state. She taught a few years then attended graduate school at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana receiving her master’s degree in science of agricultural education. Lynne resumed the position of agriculture and shop teacher in Clearmont teaching generations of students.
On December 17th, 1982 Lynne married Mike Latham of Clearmont, Wyoming in a spur of the moment wedding at the Buffalo Courthouse. They welcomed their first child, Mitchell Vaughn on February 19, 1987, then their second child Ivy Ellen on December 31, 1989. They kept Mike and her busy with sports, 4-H, FFA, and other activities for the next 18 years. In the most resent years, their two grandsons came into their lives and produced more love and joy.
Lynne dedicated her heart and soul teaching and advising the Clear Creek FFA Chapter in Clearmont for 34 years. She was honored to be the recipient of the Wyoming Champion Ag Teacher in 2017. Lynne was a master craftswoman in the shop creating amazing works of metal and she passed her talents down to her students. She would do anything for her students and treated them like her own kids. Her students thought the world of her, even the ones that got a butt chewing every now and again. In 2018 she passed down her legacy and retired, but continued to show love and compassion to everyone she crossed paths with. During retirement she returned to Boulder to help on the Richie ranch and filled her time with visits to her children and grandchildren.
Lynne touched many lives. She believed in hard work, being a good person, and she instilled that integrity into her students and many others. "Do it right the first time, then you don’t have to do it again." She had many Lynne-isums that she preached to anyone willing to listen. Lynne was known for many things, but her compassion for the people in her life came through at every moment. She was always there to listen and to give good and solid advice, as well as roll up her sleeves and help with any challenge.
Her beautiful life was shared with her husband, Mike, for 37 years; two children: Mitchell (Raylynne) Latham and their son Blaine of Billings, MT and step-son Liam Stern; Ivy Pazour (Jason) of Frankfort, SD and their son Chase; her sister Carol (Terry) Richie of Boulder, WY, and her daughter Taylor Leingang (Brandon) of Bismark, ND; her brother Eb Richie of Boulder, WY and his children Jep, Devon, Trista, Cinch; her father Jep Riche of Boulder, WY; her mother-in-law Dixie Campbell of Sheridan, WY; and her sister-in-law Susan (Pete) Flynn of Sheridan, WY and her daughter Anna.
Lynne is preceded in death by her mother, Barbra Richie; nephew Garrett Bardin; sister-in-law Nella and her daughter Kara.
A memorial scholarship in Lynne’s name will be established and given annually to a student going into an agriculture, welding, or machining field. Lynne’s family suggests that memorials be directed to the funds in care of Lynne Latham Memorial Fund, PO Box 125 Clearmont, WY 82835.
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