Claris W Sheen passed away on June 30, 2021, due to heart failure, at Platte County Memorial Hospital after a short stay at Platte County Legacy Home.

Claris was born at home, on May 30, 1939, in Ansley NB to William (Bill) and Mildred (Benson) Sheen. He spent his earliest years on a farm where he could, along with his cousin Karen, ride his pony to the one room schoolhouse where the only other students were the teachers’ children. When he was 10, his brother joined the family, whom Claris named Ronnie. He celebrated the arrival by setting the roof of their home on fire with a sparkler.

After surviving the winter of 49, the family moved to join some of his mother’s siblings in becoming lifelong Laramie residents. Eventually his father began working on the U.W. Stock Farm where they lived.

Claris graduated from LHS in 1958 and married his high school sweetheart Beverly (Bev) Taylor, a love that lasted for over 60 years. Claris and Bev enjoyed attending and planning many class reunions, Square Dancing Clubs, helping with 4-H projects, raising dairy cows, and being members of Back Country Horseman. Claris was also a member of the Elks Club and Moose Club, as well as the Rocky Mtn Elk Foundation.

After working at Schaffers Grocery, Claris began a career at UW that lasted 38 years. He retired as the Stage Manager at the Fine Arts Center, a job that gave him the opportunity to meet and talk with a wide variety of people.

Bev and Claris had two children, Lianne (Tony) Kupilik, and Tim (Shawn) Sheen. They taught their children to love the outdoors and they spent many hours together enjoying traveling, skiing, hiking, jeeping, camping, fishing, hunting, and horseback riding. Along with his nieces and nephews; Terri, Kari, Todd, Jason, Sarah, Josh and Sheldon, and especially his grandchildren, Charlie (Ashley) Kupilik, Kris Kupilik, Shane (Kayla) Kupilik, Kyle (Sara) Sheen and Tracy, (Joni) Sheen, who were always included in the annual summer vacation, creating many treasured memories. Claris and Bev enjoyed traveling, starting with their honeymoon in Yellowstone, and seeing the sights from Alaska to Europe.

He enjoyed many pack trips with his friends, two of the most memorable being from Brooklyn Lake across to Fox Park and from Dubois over the Wind River Range to the Gros Ventre. But Claris’ favorite place was their beloved Cabin at Gramm with his best friend Jack next door, and his brother Ron and Sister-in-Law Donna Sheen a cabin away. He was always at the ready for nightly camp fires, and Sunday morning pancake breakfasts. Claris hosted an annual hunting camp for friends and relatives for over 40 years.

During Bev’s illness he was an attentive caregiver and appreciated the help and comfort especially from Bev’s sister Sandra Wagner.

In his later years as his health declined, Claris enjoyed reminiscing with old friends, visiting old favorite places, and having coffee with his buddies. He even managed during covid to have morning coffee side-by-side in their cars with his friend of over 60 years Joe Coca.

It always filled Claris with joy to spend time with children, especially when his great grandchildren, Arloa Kupilik, (Charlie) Matthias Kupilik, (Shane) Sadie Sheen, (Kyle) Tucker, and Madyson Sheen (Tracy) would come to visit. They will long remember his candy and peanut jars.

A memorial service will be held at Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home on Thursday, July 15 at 10:00 A.M. with a reception to follow at the Elks Club.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society.

The family would like to extend the appreciation to the Eppson Center, Legacy Home, IMH, IMG, Dr Dan and Dr Palmer of Wheatland for their care of Claris.