Stanley Funkhouser DeVore, Jr

Stanley Funkhouser DeVore, Jr. was born in Omaha, Nebraska on April 1, 1934. He passed away on January 25, 2026, at the age of 91 surrounded by his loving family at Central Wyoming Hospice. During his childhood he lived in Denver, St. Louis, and finally Casper, Wyoming, graduating from Casper High School in 1952. He served in the US Army stationed in Germany. After his honorable discharge and realizing he still didn’t know what he wanted to be “if and when he grew up”, he pursued a business degree at the University of Wyoming. Stan “claimed” he was an indentured servant at his father’s business throughout high school and had endured many career planning sessions at the family dinner table that usually included suggesting he become a heavy-duty truck dealer like his father. After a brief yet enjoyable stint as an Arthur Murray dance instructor, Stan made the wise and inevitable choice to join his father’s business, Century White Truck Company, in Casper as a truck and chainsaw sales trainee upon his college graduation in 1961. In 1967 he and a partner purchased the dealership, and the name was changed to Casper White Trucks, Inc. He bought out his partner in 1969. He changed the name again in 1977 to Casper Truck Center, Inc. when they became Freightliner dealers. Stan was joined in business by his two sons, R. Fred DeVore, in 1987, and William F. DeVore, in 1991. In 2002, they terminated the agreement with Freightliner to accept the opportunity to be the exclusive Peterbilt dealer in Wyoming, necessitating one more final name change to Peterbilt of Wyoming expanding statewide with facilities in Casper, Cheyenne, Riverton, and Rock Springs. In business, he was regarded as tough, honest (blunt), but fair with both customers and employees, many of which exhibited their loyalty with over 30 years of service.

Stan was very active in the industry both state-wide and nationally. He served many roles with the Wyoming Trucking Association including Convention Chairman and Allied Industries Chairman. He was honored by the association with the Con Biederman Humanitarian Award as a reflection of his ongoing service and charity to the communities in which he lived. He was elected in 1994 to be the Freightliner Dealer Line Representative for American Truck Dealers (ATD) division of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and subsequently served as the Chairman of ATD in 2000-2001. As Chairman, Stan was well-known for his bi-monthly written columns and convention speeches. He used humor and his hallmark out-spoken and direct approach to voice the concerns of all the North American dealers he represented to the truck manufacturers.

Serving as the ATD Chairman was the pinnacle of his career; however, he often said the best decision he ever made was marrying Donna F. Swisher in 1959. He attributed his success in business to Donna’s unwavering support while she also raised their three children. They lived in Casper until moving permanently in 1999 to their summer home in Saratoga, Wyoming where they resided until moving to Sheridan in 2013. In every community they lived in, Stan served in many organizations including the Hogadon Basin Ski Patrol, Casper Ice Hockey Board, and on the vestry of St. Mark’s and St. Barnabas Episcopal Churches. He enjoyed Bible study at Grace Anglican Church. He was a member of Rotary Club, Lions Club, Elks Club, the American Legion, the Casper Lodge No. 15 AF & AM, the Korein and Kalif Temples of Shriners.

A lifelong “motorhead,” Stan customized hot rods in high school, raced flat track motorcycles and boats, and was cable TV pioneer Bill Daniels’ racing boat mechanic for a while. Later his passion for speed switched to aviation, and he ultimately became an instrument-rated private pilot. He was also an avid fly fisherman, bird hunter, skier, golfer, cribbage player, and loved riding his BMW motorcycles after his 2002 retirement. He had a great time playing the tenor banjo in the Salt Creek Jazz band from 1969 to 1980. He enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren everything from table manners to financial management using the proper tools of the trade which included Purina dog dishes, a telescopic fork and his now-antique TI-55 Calculator.

Stan is survived by his children Janis DeVore (Clif Cook), William F. DeVore (Nina), R. Fred DeVore (Kim), his brother John B. DeVore, 11 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 62 years, Donna Swisher DeVore, his parents Stanley F. DeVore and Clyde Butler DeVore, and his sister Jane DeVore Grant. He lived in Casper for the past three years at Primrose where he enjoyed the companionship of his friends Herman Boner and Pat Bronsdon. Stan will be remembered for his deep love for his family, God and our country. A memorial service will be held at Bustard’s Funeral Home in Casper, Wyoming on June 5th at 10:00 am with Rev. Kevin Jones of Sheridan’s Grace Anglican Church officiating. An internment of his ashes will take place at a later date in a private family ceremony at Mount Hope-Big Horn Cemetery in Big Horn, Wyoming. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either Grace Anglican Church, 1992 W. 5th St., Sheridan, WY 82801 or to Wyoming Rescue Mission, 230 N. Park St., Casper, WY 82601.