Barbara Lloyd Kissack
Long-time University of Wyoming Senior Project Administrator Barbara Ann (Lloyd) Kissack, 80, of Laramie died peacefully and surrounded by friends on October 27, 2024, at Hospice of Laramie.
She was born on April 6, 1944, in Omaha, Nebraska where her father, Henry Webster Lloyd, was stationed while serving in the U.S. Army. Following the war, the family moved to Cheyenne, the family home of her mother, Victorine Hinkle Lloyd. Her father was chief of staff for Wyoming Governor Arthur G. Crane.
Barbara attended Churchill Elementary School and St. Mary’s School and was one of the first graduates of the newly built Cheyenne East High School in 1962. She earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Wyoming in 1990.
Barbara worked in various departments at the University of Wyoming, retiring after many years at the UW Research Office with the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program. A proud achievement was attained when she organized a national meeting at the Jackson Lake Lodge attended by 500 people from around the country.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, brother, and her son Sean Kissack, a Laramie High graduate, National guard helicopter medic and first responder in Rapid City, South Dakota, as well as her much beloved Golden Retrievers, Gillie, Fritha, and Prudie.
Barbara was an avid lover, photographer and protector of nature in all its forms, proud of her orchids and the orioles that returned to her backyard each spring to feast on the orange slices she provided them.
She was a devout member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral who ably served as Senior Warden, Vestry Member, Eucharistic Minister, Acolyte, Alter Guild Officer, teacher, and facilitator.
A memorial service will be held at St. Matthew’s Cathedral on Monday, November 25, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. Memorial gifts to Barbara’s favorite charity, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850, would be greatly appreciated.
Barbara Lloyd Kissack
11
Nov 24
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A Celebration of Life and Memorial Service for a special lady and dear friend of mine, Barbara Kissack, concluded a few minutes ago at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral here in Laramie. Barbara passed away at Hospice on October 27th surrounded by special friends who had gathered to pray and sing for her. Barbara was an amazing human being, so gentle and strong at the same time. She lived a life caring for others more than she did for herself. She loved her golden retrievers, especially Prudie, who died about a year ago. When she was a pup, at our insistence, we asked her to bring her new puppy to coffee hour after church. She went home and picked up Prudie who charmed everybody socks off but embarrassed Barbara when she proceeded to piddle on the tile floor. In the past few years with ever declining health Prudie and her cat Sampson continued to provide her with much joy. She carried the pain of an untimely loss of her only son Sean. She lived two houses down the street from me and we visited very often. She was also part of the “church ladies” who gathered at my home occasionally to celebrate with wine and treats. Thank you, Shi, Taimi and Valentina, for making these gatherings happen. Barbara loved bird watching, her yard and gardens, photography, NPR, and intellectual stimulation. She was well read without sounding intellectual and always enjoyed a good discussion. At St. Matthew’s she held a number of leadership roles and was for years in charge of weekly cleaning of the altar linens, a task she took very seriously. Professionally she had a stellar career with UW’s grant operations, being in charge of making sure every piece of requested information and every “t” was crossed and “I” dotted before final submission; a tedious and exacting responsibility, but nonetheless one that could make or break a grant. She and I particularly were fond of an author that we encountered a few years ago whose life ended too early when he passed away from brain cancer. His name was Brian Doyle and he wrote in a unique style. An example that she and I loved was called “Joyas Voladoras” or “priceless jewels” in Spanish, referring to the name that the first Spaniards into the Northern Hemisphere gave to hummingbirds, which they had never seen. Brian had twin sons, one of which had a defective heart from birth. That condition precipitated writing this piece about the importance of the heart and accompanying emotion in every being from hummingbirds to humans and even tortoises. It is so worth reading and can be found in the Phi Beta Kappa publication, “American Scholar”, where it won a prize in 2004. It is so worth a Google and a short search to find it since it is copyrighted. And so special lady and dear friend, until we meet again. “Well done my good and faithful servant” - Matthew 25:21.
Barbara was a dear and treasured friend of many years. We shared much laughter as well as tears during all that time. She was a true soul mate and she leaves a deep and lasting void in my life. I am grateful for the warm memories and the assurance that she is now experiencing a glorious reunion with her son Sean, her parents and other loved ones. Her rewards will surely be great! Many thanks for the loving hands that cared for her in her last weeks and hours. Janice Jenkins
Barbara was a dear, kind woman. Years ago I would visit with her while walking my dog.
Barbara was a very dear friend for many years. We were also colleagues and shared many memorable philosophical discussions on a wide range of topics. Her son Sean and our daughter were friends in high school, and for reasons I no longer recall, we were the caretakers of Sean's goldfish for a number of years, a source of jocular exchanges. Barbara enriched the lives of those of us privileged to have known her.