Merna J. Boatman

Merna Boatman, age 88 of Lemmon passed away on Wednesday evening, May 24, 2023 at Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon.

Merna J. Boatman was born on December 23, 1934 in Midwest, WY to Elmer Adrian and Mildred (McNatt) Jepson.  Her mother died when Merna was five months old.  Her father became both father and mother to Merna and her two older sisters until he married Wilma Dickinson Jepson.  Wilma was a kind and loving mother to Merna, who had never known her birth mother.

Merna attended schools in Midwest and Casper, WY graduating in 1952 from Natrona County High School.  She married her high school sweetheart Skip Boatman on January 5, 1952 in Gering, NE.  They made their home in Casper and together, they enjoyed the wildlife on their land near Dubois.  Prior to Skip’s illness, they hiked many miles in the back country of Yellowstone National Park, always watching for bears or bear tracks of keen interest.  They camped and fished many Wyoming and Montana rivers, lakes and streams.

Upon retirement, they spent the fall and winter months in Yuma, AZ making new and lasting friendships with other winter visitors.  After Skip’s death, she continued to divide her time between her homes in Wyoming and Arizona.  In the summer of 2019, Merna moved to an apartment in Lemmon and since the summer of 2021, she has resided at Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon.

Merna worked for Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association, the Continental Oil Company, and retired after 24 years with the State of Wyoming.

She was past president of the Wyoming Public Employees Association, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and American Business Women’s Association.

Merna enjoyed spending time with family and friends in Casper and Yuma.  She enjoyed reading and keeping up with the judicial system and controversial trials and doing Genealogy.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Patti and Jim Uhrig, Lemmon, SD; nine grandchildren, Michelle, Bob, Jenny, Brandy, Mandi, Misty, Hank, and Clay; eleven great grandchildren, Celena, Neko, Damond, Kameron, Asher, Emily, Andrea, Kaysen, Stunner, Immanuel, and Escobar; one great great grandson, Travis Joe; a sister-in-law, Marla Jepson; nieces, Cindy Pettit and Kim Smith; nephews and Honorary Bearers, Elmer Taylor, Rory Jepson, Todd Jepson, Kal Jepson, Brent Jepson, Kent Jepson, Chris Jepson, and Dale Jepson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Skip of 49 years, two sons, Gary Boatman and Mike Boatman; grandsons, Jimbo Uhrig and Skip Boatman; two sisters, Margaret Claytor and Marianne Derr; and two brothers, Maurice and Merle Jepson.

The Memorial Service will be held at 2:00pm on Sunday, June 11, 2023 at Bustard and Jacoby Funeral Home, 600 CY Ave, Casper, WY  82601 with Kathy Morsett, officiating.  Inurnment will be at 10:00am on Monday, June 12, 2023 at the Highland Cemetery in Casper.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com or www.bustardcares.com.