Obituary of Floyd Ardrey

Biography Floyd Carmon Ardrey was born to John and Ella Cecilia Ardrey on July 21, 1933 in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. Floyd was the second of six children, the first boy in the family and the apple of his father’s eye. For the first few years of Floyd’s life, the family lived in Cheyenne Wells in a house at the west end of Main Street. Floyd was not a mild mannered child, he was rather rambunctious. Even as a youngster in diapers, he would make a run for it and make it downtown to visit the local soda shop. In fact-he was notorious for slipping away, so much so that his mom Cecil harnessed him to the clothes line-allowing him to run but not escape the back yard. When Floyd was about three, the family move to the farm located about six miles south of Cheyenne Wells. Floyd loved growing up on the farm, he liked helping with cattle, planting and harvesting wheat and riding horses. As a young man, Floyd would hunt rabbits and small game to help provide food for the family during the tough times. Floyd was known to be a devilish prankster in high school, putting skunks in the school boiler room-resulting in school closure for the better part of a week. There were probably numerous other episodes that we are not aware of, nor appropriate to mention at this time, though-none bad enough to result in arrests or convictions. Floyd was known to be athletic and excelled on the football field. If boxing would have been a sanctioned high school sport, chances are Floyd might have been the middle weight champ of the county. Floyd’s parents opened a roller skating rink downtown Cheyenne Wells in the early 50s, he and his sister Joann learned how to dance and waltz on skates. He also enjoyed dancing the jitter bug with his youngest sister Alice and was a guardian to his sister Bonnie. The family was musically inclined, as his sister Nancy and his brother Freddie would sing and Floyd would whistle along to various songs, particularly one of their favorites ‘Tennessee Waltz’. Floyd graduated from high school in 1952 and the following year; wed his high school sweetheart, Shirley Jean Carroll. Drafted into the US Army in 1953, during the last of the Korean War, Floyd had many different experiences as a soldier. The one lasting impression from his time in Korea was the distaste for rice! In October 1953, Floyd’s first baby girl was born- Evonne Kathleen. Of course, Kathy was supposed to be a boy, so he called her Butch, a nickname that lasted throughout her life. He even taught her how to box, which resulted in bloody noses and Kathy once delivering a punch with a ring to give her dad a good gash above the eye. Around 1958, Floyd had the opportunity to work in the booming oil fields in Kansas, and he moved the family to Seward, near Great Bend. On July 9, 1960 a second baby girl, LaVanda Carmon was born to Floyd and Shirley in Saint John, Kansas. Floyd continued to work in the oilfield until he was asked to come back to Colorado and help on the family farm. In early 1962, the family moved back to Cheyenne Wells. In September of 1962, Shirley died and in December, Floyd’s father John passed away. The family was devastated by the sorrow and loss. As time passed, Floyd married Judy Buswell and in 1965 they moved to Colorado Springs and later to Tacoma Washington. Kathy and LaVanda remained in Cheyenne Wells with their grandmother, Cecilia. Floyd Carmon Junior, the only son was born to Judy and Floyd on February 18 of 1967. After nearly five years of marriage, Floyd and Judy dissolved their union. Even though Floyd did not spend as much time with little Floyd as he would have liked, he loved his son and referred to Shotsy with much affection. Floyd met and married Lee Stroupe in September of 1970, Floyd and Lea decided to get a fresh start and move from Washington State back to Floyd’s dusty hometown of Cheyenne Wells. Lea could often be heard saying ‘who would live in this god forsaking country’…but even Lea learned to love the people and the area more and more as time went on. Lea was even known to help other ‘transplants’ deal with their homesickness and settle into Cheyenne County. On March 16, 1976, Floyd and Lea received a wonderful last addition when their youngest daughter, Dawn Ella was born. After several moves when Dawn was a child, the family finally settled in Burlington, where the family loved their time on the place just north of Burlington. Floyd was a truck driver for most of his life and was very good at his job and was proud of his work. It is likely that Floyd traveled most every highway and major road in the US and worked hard until the end of his life. A number of relatives and friends traveled with Floyd on some of the long hauls, LaVanda vividly remembers a trip that her father provided as a high school graduation gift, which was originally planned as a four day trip…but ended up being a two week excursion by the time they returned. It was unforgettable for LaVanda as he taught her how to drive the truck, load and unload cargo and very useful CB lingo. LaVanda earned the official title of ‘Lumper’-one who has expert ability to load and unload cargo-which has undoubtedly helped her in her career as a farmer and rancher. LaVanda has also remarked about the experiences on the road with her dad, as have other family members and friends. Floyd and Lea loved horses and were good to all animals. One of Floyd’s favorite past times was riding his horse and he passed his talents and passion for horses to his youngest daughter Dawn, who became a skilled horsewoman. In February of 2002, Floyd lost Lea, the love his life to cancer. August 9 of 2003, Daylea was born to Dawn and her husband Barney. Though Floyd loved all his grandchildren, he always had a special place for Daylea as she reminded him so much of her grandmother and name sake, Lea. Floyd fought heart disease for over 20 years and defied death many times. He was truly one of the hardest working people we knew but after years of struggle and exhaustion, on April 3, 2011 his work was done and he was called home to join the Lord. Floyd will be greatly missed by his friends and family but will take comfort in knowing he is free of pain and with those he loves. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lea Stroupe, first wife Shirley Jean Carroll Ardrey, one brother Freddie A. Ardrey, two son-in-laws; Wes Mitchek and Rick Dwyer. Left to cherish his memories are his children; Kathy Dwyer-Keefe (Gerald) of Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, LaVanda Mitchek of Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, Floyd Carmon Ardrey Jr. of Washington State, Dawn Garner (Barney) of Burlington, Colorado, step sons; Joe Stroupe (Maureen) of Castle Rock, Colorado, Richard Stroupe of Richmond, California and one step daughter Sandy Cruiz (George) of Olympia, Washington, four sisters; Joan Kibbee of Golden Valley, Arizona, Alice Akers (Norman) of Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, Nancy Kampf (Henry) of Cheyenne Wells, Colorado and Bonnie Drumm ( Leonard) of Olney Springs, Colorado. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, 6 step grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.