Darryl W. Lynde

Memorial service for Darryl Lynde will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 14, 2017 at First Baptist Church with Pastor Donavon Voigt officiating. Darryl Lynde entered the gates of glory and saw his savior on August 8th, 2017. He was surrounded by the love of his family. Darryl was born on Friday the 13th of September, 1940 in Gillette, WY. 13 immediately became a very special number for him. He was raised in Gillette by his parents, Neuma and Pug Davidson along with his brother Ron. He knew that he had the BEST parents and childhood anyone could hope for. His parents filled their home with love and worked hard to give the boys everything they needed. He attended Campbell County schools through the 12th grade. There he built close and lasting relationships with his classmates. One of the highlights of his school career was being on the 1st State Championship Basketball team in 1958. As a child, he accepted Christ at Camp Wyoba on Casper Mountain. This experience led him to attend Ottawa University in Kansas with the dream of becoming a pastor. During his schooling at Ottawa he would spend summers back in Gillette. The summer of 1961, he married the love of his life, Sharon Wilson. They went back to Ottawa in their candy apple red 1949 Chevy. Darryl always loved flashy cars—even if they were duct-taped together and required a jug of water to keep from overheating. After completing his degree in 1962, Darryl accepted a job at Arvada West High School in Colorado teaching high school English. Darryl and Sharon’s marriage was blessed by the addition of Shad Renee, Darren Worth, and Lyndy Nichole. Starting family traditions was important to this young family. The “real Santa” showed up every year for the last 55 years. This last Christmas Darryl got to be “real Santa” and was sure to add his own flair to the role. He loved to take his family skiing, boating, and fishing. Each trip included lots of laughs and card games (some with official rules, but most with rules that had been Darryl-ified). In the true entrepreneurial spirit, while raising his family Darryl endeavored in many things. These adventures included: teaching English at CCHS, owning a liquor store, rough necking for Cyclone Drilling, starting the Way Out House (Gillette’s first teen center), owning and operating the Circle L Motel, selling real estate, and being a partner in Gillette’s original Holiday Inn. Of course, these adventures were just a prelude to returning to his life long dream of becoming a counselor/pastor. At the age of 48 he returned to Seminary and became a licensed professional Christian Counselor and an American Baptist ordained minister. The pinnacle of his 20 plus years in counseling and pastoring was when his life long church (First Baptist Church) asked him to be their pastor. He had finally fulfilled his childhood dream of being the pastor of that church. Seeing changes in people’s lives was exciting for him and very rewarding. Darryl and Sharon were blessed with six grandchildren and affectionately referred to as Papah and Grandy. Papah loved to teach his grandkids about everything from God’s love to the perfect cup of hot chocolate. He assured each one of them that they were designed by God so they ARE special…and ENOUGH. He was a grandpa who would let his grandkids drive the convertible before they were in kindergarten and would proudly volunteer to get his nails painted, play black jack, or sing along with Dancing Queen whenever asked. He shared his love of Disney and all things fairytales with his grandchildren. They would sit in his chair and read countless fairytales together—always ending with: “And they lived happily ever after. They had their problems, but they worked them out together…with God.” Thanks to his unconditional love, Papah’s zest for life will be present every time one of his grandchildren catches a fish, rides down thrill hill, (over) feeds a squirrel, goes moon hunting, or eats Haagen-Dazs. As a life long avid fisherman, Darryl always said, “My best catch was the love of my life, Share…She’s perf!” His legacy of love will continue, not only in his family but in all of you who have been touched by his love. Darryl was preceded in death by his parents, Neuma and Pug Davidson. He is survived by; his wife of 56 years Sharon, brother Ron (Ginny), daughter Shad (Jerry) Sauther of Billings, MT, son Darren (Kim) Lynde of Gillette, and Lyndy (Ryun) Williams of Ft. Collins, CO, and his grandchildren Stetson, Sydney (Brady), Natalie, Emily, Garrett, and Lauren. The family requests that memorials be made in Darryl’s name to Camp Wyoba (Wyoming Baptist Church Camp). Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com