- Mr. Loomis was born June 6, 1917, in Murray, Iowa, to Ralph and Elsie (Bierma) Loomis. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from St. Mary's (Iowa) High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Wyla Elaine Jacobs, Feb. 26, 1941, in Indianola, Iowa. The couple moved to Wyoming in 1941 and worked for Ralph Wiley on Prairie Dog Creek for four years. They later moved to Big Horn, where Mr. Loomis was dairyman for Goelet Gallatin at the Gallatin Ranch. When the ranch sold the dairy herd and developed a Hereford cow-calf operation, Mr. Loomis became foreman. He later bought all the cattle and machinery and leased the ranch until 1984, when he retired. He was a ditch rider for the Last Chance Ditch for several years. He was a charter member of the Big Horn Lions Club and served as president. He was a 4-H leader for many years and a member of the Big Horn Volunteer Fire Department and the Mount Hope Cemetery board of directors. He enjoyed building cabinets, knickknack boxes and planters and was the primary architect for a mountain cabin. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting with his family and riding his four-wheeler to the cabin. He was preceded in death by two brothers. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Dennis of Big Horn and Marion of Cheyenne; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
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