Raymond Chester Runyon, 62, of Gillette, Wyoming  died Saturday, March 15, 2014, at his home, of cancer.  Services at New Life Weslyan Church in Gillette.  Burial at Mount Pisgah.

He was born Dec. 26, 1951, to Roscoe and Juanita (Harmon) Runyon in Olney, Ill. He graduated from Olney High School in 1970, and shortly after, received a draft notice from the Army during the Vietnam War. He chose to enlist and in 1972, he went to basic training in Fort Campbell, Ky., and then served two years in Berlin as a medic. He was honorably discharged in 1974.

He then went to college, attending Olney Community College in Olney and University of Illinois in Springfield, receiving a degree in human services. After moving to Casper in 1978, he was hired on at Wyoming Machinery Co. (Caterpillar) in 1979, in Casper and later transferred to Gillette in 1985. He continued to work there for a total of 32 years, enjoying the job and the people he worked with.

He always enjoyed the outdoors, whether it be hunting, fishing in the Big Horns, hiking or biking in the Black Hills, or running and walking on the bike trails in Gillette. He spent much time with friends or by himself doing the things he loved.In 1990, he married Rebecca Sperr and they made a home together in Gillette. They welcomed a daughter, Jessica, in 1996. They took several trips here and there, but one trip that changed his life forever was a tour of Israel and Jordan shortly after they were married. Seeing the land of Jesus’ birth was so meaningful to him. Another trip that had much meaning was just recently to Alaska, a lifelong dream fulfilled.

In October 2011, he suffered a stroke, which was later determined to be caused by a cancerous brain tumor. He spent the last two years fighting to regain the ability to walk and talk again with the same determination that he did when he was hiking in the mountains or running a marathon. His faith in the Lord kept him strong and sure. He felt he lived a good, full life and had no regrets.

He is survived by his wife, Becky Runyon; daughter, Jessi Runyon; mother, Juanita Runyon of Olney, Ill.; sister, Maxine Tarpley of Albion, Ill.; brother, Calvin Runyon of Hempstead, Texas; and a niece.

He is preceded in death by his father, Roscoe Runyon.

Published in Gillette News Record, The - Wednesday, March 19, 2014