Rayola Lea Bessey peacefully passed away on February 9, 2025 in Riverton, Wyoming. She was born May 30,1942 to her parents, Raymond Marion Weber, and Lela Lucille Taylor -Weber in Riverton, Wyoming at her great grandparents’ home. She grew up on the bank of the Big Wind River; in the shadow of the Wind River mountains in Johnstown Valley; near Kinnear, Wyoming. Rayola attended school at Morton and graduated in 1960 with honors. She lettered as a cheerleader and in the band. She sang in the choir, was a tenor saxophone player, and loved to square dance.
Rayola worked at the CM Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming as a cabin girl, and cook’s assistant during her summers of junior and senior years of high school and a summer during college. She attended the University Wyoming on a full ride teacher scholarship for one year.
She met Bob Bessey, fell in love, and married him June 29, 1962. She supervised the cabin girls at the CM after their marriage and worked at the Crowheart Post Office for a while.
Rayola and Bob had three children Barbara, Brad, and Jeanne and lived in the Crowheart and the Riverton area for their entire married life of 62 years. Nephew Steve Bessey spent part of his teen years living with them as well.
She was an accomplished seamstress. She made western shirts for her family and western suits for the girl’s rodeo queen outfits. She proudly won the Grange sewing contest. She also did wonderful upholstery work on car, truck, and airplane seats.
She always supported Bob in all his endeavors including chariot racing and raising Paint and Quarter horses, Longhorn cattle, Blue Heeler, and Border Collie dogs. He often bragged she was a good woman and had his chores done, his dogs fed, and supper ready when he got home from a long day horseback.
Rayola was a wonderful homemaker and an excellent cook. She made the best cookies and often gave the last batch to the beloved blue heeler dogs. Her companion Missy was the only dog ever allowed in the house and spent many hours by her side at her sewing machine. She was the most inventive and creative woman. She cross stitched, loved crafting, and beaded her own jewelry.
She supported her kids in all their adventures attending nearly every horse show and rodeo. She was selfless with her time. Always willing to open chutes for roping practice and help them prepare for 4-H projects or horse shows at the county fair. She encouraged all her children to receive a college degree. All three graduated with either associates, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees.
When the kids were in high school and college; in 1983 she began to work at Riverton High School as the guidance office secretary. She learned how to enter records in the computer when the technology age ushered in and was not afraid to learn new skills. She retired after 18 years.
She loved her job and the students she helped. Rayola received many accolades for her efforts with recruiting for the United States Air Force and Navy. She helped with parade floats, and graduation ceremonies yearly. After a year of retirement, she returned to work as a Special Education Paraprofessional and enjoyed helping kids at RHS. Finally, retiring at age 75. She was a teacher at heart.
She was a lifelong rock hounder and taught her grandkids how to find the coolest rocks such as geodes, petrified wood, and agates. She had a great rock garden.
Bob and Rayola were Sponsors for the RHS Rodeo Club, and she was the secretary for the rodeo for many years. She loved helping young people and guided them to see their potential in anything she was involved in. Forever a secretary, just for fun, she recorded the times and scores for the many local rodeos she and Bob attended and watched on television.
Rayola was the secretary behind the scenes for several ranch manager jobs that Bob held. She made spreadsheets to keep track of all the cows and they knew at glance what cows needed to be kept or culled. She enjoyed riding in her mid-sixties, and helped Bob on South pass for many summers moving cattle and fixing fences. They lived in a dry camp for weeks at a time using an outhouse. She was the epitome of toughness.
She was the most supportive grandma attending as many activities for her grandchildren as she could. She was always up for a rodeo, dance recital, band concert, wrestling match, track meet, volleyball, soccer, or basketball game. She enjoyed making Halloween, Christmas and other holidays special for her grandchildren and family. She loved her six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren dearly.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Bob, daughter Barbara Jacobs, granddaughter; Brenda Fluty, great grandsons, Jaxson, Jase, and Jordy; granddaughter Amy (Greg) Winford, great granddaughters, Ava, and Madison; grandson; Brian (Haylie) Jacobs and great grandson Lyle; son Brad Bessey; daughter, Jeanne Carper (Shawn), grandchildren; Clay (Jenna) Carper, Cara (John) Franzen, and great grandson Blue; and Kyle Carper and Jori Skaggs. As well as many beloved nieces, nephews, and sister-in-law Connie Weber.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond, and Lela Weber; brothers: Lyndall Weber, Craig Weber, and sister Frances Bullington.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 15, 2025 at the Davis Funeral Home in Riverton with burial to follow at the Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton. A visitation of family and friends will be 4 – 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 14, 2025 at the funeral home.
On-line condolences may be made at TheDavisFuneralHome.com
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton.