Kevin Neil Hefley was born January 27, 1973 during a blinding snow storm in Walsh, Colo.
He passed from this life June 24, on a county road near Pine Bluffs, Wyo.
Kevin was definitely an outdoors-man. He trained colts and worked with cattle as much as his time off from crop dusting would allow.
Growing up, his school days were spent in Walsh and Springfield, Colo., and Ulysses.
He graduated from Ulysses High School in 1991. He participated in varsity football, basketball and wrestling. He enrolled at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., receiving a bachelor of science in Animal Science. While at Kansas State he made the university rodeo team as a bareback rider. After making the team he called his Mom and said, “I made the K State rodeo team and I know you will not be happy about it.” He made many friends and special acquaintances and loved traveling to rodeos with the group of cowboys and cowgirls.
He put his degree to work and progressed his career by farming and ranching with his father outside of Walsh, Colo. The years he farmed and ranched he was a member of the Baca County Fair Board from January 14, 2003 to September 7, 2011, organizing and participating in the ranch rodeos. He was also involved in leadership with the Bent & Prowers Cattle and Horse Growers Association for several years, and also served on the Baca County Farm Bureau Board.
Kevin had an intense passion for flying and in 2015 he moved to Pine Bluffs, Wyo., and started a career as a crop duster. He took on spraying jobs in Wyoming, Arizona, Texas and other states. He was a business man and owner of Airtime Aerial.
Left to cherish his memory are daughters: Maddison and Lela Hefley, both of Goreville, Ill.; his mother, Cindy Danner (Ken) Amarillo, Texas; his father, Fred Hefley (Kay Lynn) Amarillo, Texas; sister, Angela Boschen (Dan) Amarillo, Texas; brother, Keith Hefley (Amber) Alexandria, Minn.; stepsister Cheryl Murphy-Stanley (Mike), Phoenix, Ariz.; step-brother Bryan Weimer (Michelle) Pueblo, Colorado; and several nieces and nephews.
The family has planned a private burial in Walsh, Colo., and everyone is invited to celebrate his life Saturday, August 2, come and go at the Walsh Community Building on Main Street from 12:30 to 4 p.m. BBQ will be served.
