James Hunt Lyle

Born James Hunt Lyle on September 4,1935 in Denver, Colorado to Stuart Paton Lyle and Myrtle Eda Hunt. Jim had two older brothers Robert and John, and they grew up at 1640 Garfield Street, near City Park in Denver. Jim attended East High School and graduated in 1953. He worked at many different jobs while attending school from delivering newspapers, driving the ski bus to Winter Park and working in the Denver stockyards where he fed his growing interest in the livestock business. He attended Colorado A & M College in Fort Collins and graduated in the first graduating class at the newly renamed Colorado State University with a degree in Agricultural Economics in 1958. Following his graduation, he spent time working as a livestock buyer in Kansas City, Missouri and Dalhart, Texas.

On one of his visits back to Denver, he met his future wife, Marilyn Maples. They were married in 1964 and following their marriage, they moved to Casper, Wyoming where they made their home for over 55 years. Together, he and Marilyn raised two children, William Stuart and Allyson Lea. Jim was a livestock buyer for many years, but over time he transitioned to work that involved less travel and time spent away from his family. He spent his second career as a residential and commercial real estate developer in and around Casper. Following his retirement, he became a master woodworker and spent many hours in the wood shop at Casper College.

He and Marilyn loved to cross-country ski and take long walks on Casper Mountain and in town. They took many trips to California to visit their children and grandchildren and enjoyed many visits from those same children and grandchildren at their home in Casper. When Marilyn became ill in 2017, he transitioned to being a caregiver and was there for her every day until she passed in early 2020.

Following her passing, he continued to take wood shop and eventually stained-glass classes at Casper College and attend his monthly “Liar’s Club” lunches where his stories found an appreciative audience. Jim was known as a man of few words, but when he did speak, people tended to listen and laugh. He was regaling visitors with his unique sense of humor up to the very end. Jim touched a lot of people’s lives over 90 years and we were all the richer for it.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim’s name can be made to Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions.

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