Carrie Lea Bernatow, 82, of Laramie, died Sunday, February 12, 2017 at Ivinson Memorial Hospital.
She was born December 13, 1934 in Aladdin, Wyoming to George and Elda (Finn) Gray.
Carrie grew up in Saratoga and married her high school sweetheart, William Raymond Bernatow on December 12, 1954 in Saratoga.
Carrie and Billy eventually moved to Laramie. She began working for First Interstate Bank for 30 plus years and then began working for WyoTech over the next 20 years. Carrie was known as the wrestling coach’s wife, where she ended up washing the wrestling uniforms because of one incident where she washed the uniforms and they won the matches and superstition got in the way where she had to continue to wash the uniforms over the next 33 years. She also hosted the end of the wrestling season dinner for 33 years.
Carrie was an avid Oakland Raider’s football fan because of her grandson. She also enjoyed cooking, George Strait and making her famous cinnamon rolls, but her number one passion was her grandchildren.
Carrie’s family would like to give a big thank you to all the wonderful staff at Ivinson Memorial Hospital for taking such great care of their mother.
She is preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her four brothers; and her one sister.
Carrie is survived by her children, Randy Bernatow (Trudy) of Saratoga, WY, Ron Bernatow (Elaine) of Torrington, WY, Jackie Barton (Shane) of Sterling, CO, and Speed Gray (Tammy) of Roosevelt, UT; her grandchildren, Brock, Jacob, Nathan, Carrie Rose, Brady, Kristin, Dakota, Nastasha, and Jeremiah; and her nine great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Jim Bernatow (Nancy); and her special friends, Paul and Karen Fanning and Emily Bernatow and Rene Gaddis.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 16, 2017 at Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home with Pastor Matt Coulter, officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ivinson Memorial Hospital Beta Room, 255 N. 30th, Laramie, WY 82072.
My condolences to Carrie's family. I did not know her very well, but remember her as a wonderful and kind lady. I enjoyed reading her obituary and finding out that we shared a love for the Raiders!
Am so sorry for your loss. Carrie was my boss when I first moved back to Laramie in 1976. She was kind. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. Jacquie Stickley
Carrie was an absolutely amazing woman and I feel so privileged to have known and worked for her. She was someone who touched my life deeply as a teenage girl, both personally and professionally, and I will never ever forget her smile and kindness. My sincere condolences to the entire family.
My condolences to you and your family.
I had the pleasure to work with Carrie for many years at WyoTech. I was extremely fortunate to have her work in my department everyday in the Visitor Center for a couple of years. I am sure we were able to have her join our team not only as the official greeter to the school but also to watch over all of us "young bucks" and try and keep us in line!. There will never be a better face and personality to welcome visitors to the school! She treated everyone like family and she was a grandma to us all. I remember her allowing my daughter Kelsey take over her desk to draw and color her pictures that she proudly displayed on her desk. I am happy to know that that she always said we" kept her young and reminded her of her grand-kid" who she was very proud of and talked about them everyday. She baked us so many loafs of bread and pans of cinnamon rolls, that we could barely eat them as fast as she would resupply. We were Broncos fans, so we always had a standing lunch bet where the losing team had to buy lunch. I would gladly have the Raiders stomp the Broncos just one more time to be able to have another lunch date with Carrie. I also got a kick out of the fact that if the Raiders lost, she would not answer my calls on Sunday but would be there on Monday with a smile on her face ready for our lunch date! I can not express how much it meant to me to be able to visit with her on Saturday and hold her hand and talk about anything and everything. We lost one of the greatest souls on earth but heaven and Billy gained a awesome angel!
Ron & Elaine & Family. I am so sorry to hear about your mother. My condolences to you and all of your family.
I'm so sorry for your loss, Bernatow family. I worked with Carrie at First National Bank when I was in high school. I learned so much from her gentle and kind nature. Prayers and love to all.
So very sorry for your loss. Carrie was a gentle soul who never failed to make sure you were having a good day. Her smile lit up her whole face.
God gained an angel. What a sweet woman Carie was. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Enjoy the celebration of her beautiful life. She will be missed by anyone and everyone who's lives she touched.
Carrie was and is a one-of-a-kind. Since 1998, we have been loved by a woman with the gentlest voice and hands of anyone we have known. Even though we have been afar, we still feel that Carrie has been a light in our life. She is truly a light that will burn forever. Carrie will be missed. Love Lisa and Ben Janczewski, Ohio
Thought & prayers are with all of you at this time. Carrie was a very special person & will be greatly missed
I am sorry to hear about Carrie. She was the "wrestling mom" for many of us. You are all in my prayers.
Carrie, Bill and the entire Bernatow Family hold a deep place in so many hearts! Carrie always met everyone with her welcoming smile, gave selflessly of her time, and she had the ability to leave everyone she had contact with feeling a whole lot better just talking with her. The entire Bernatow Family.....You are in my heart and prayers!
May warm memories help you through this difficult time. Carrie was such a special part of my time at WyoTech. She was one of the most generous, kind people I've ever known. Quick with a hug or story Carrie took care of all of us! She worked especially hard trying to keep "her boys; Gabe and Greg" out of trouble and keep the rest of us happy and fed. She loved you all fiercely, and although I didn't get to meet her whole family, I feel like I know you from her stories. You are all in my thoughts.
Some of the greatest times of my life with Carrie
I am so saddened by the passing of your Mom. Both your Mom and Dad were always a great part of my parents, Margaret and Scotty Pickett life. We spent a great deal of time with you and your family during wrestling time and after. I used to babysit you kids and really cared about your family. I have you all in my prayers. God be with you. Marcia (Pickett) Gaudioso
My prayers are with the Family. What a wonderful group of people who really know how to show love for one another. Carrie touched so many lives and she will be greatly missed. I'm proud to have known her since I was two years old.
Carrie was such a caring lady who always had a smile on her face and never had a bad word to say about anyone. All of the maintenance staff would stop work when word was out that Carrie had a batch of her sticky buns at the office. some of the best I've ever tasted. My condolences to the Bernatow familey.
Carrie was a great women who had a heart as big as Wyoming. It was such a pleasure to be around, she always had a smile on her face and never said a bad word about anyone. All of the maintenance staff would stop when she brought in her sticky buns. My condolences to the Bernatow family.
My sweet friend Carrie. You are the most beautiful soul I ever had the privilege of knowing. You were such an amazing person to work with and became someone I will cherish in memory forever! Rest in peace!!
I am sorry for your loss, my condolences go out to the family.
My heartfelt condolences to the Bernatow family, Carrie was always good for a caring and friendly smile. I'll surely miss her generous ways and her wonderful sweet rolls. Again my deepest sympathy.