Sheila K. Ker

With great sadness, yet much joy for Heaven’s gain, Sheila K. Ker passed suddenly Friday, Sept. 21, 2012 in the comfort of her home.

Sheila was born in Sheridan, on Dec. 16, 1975, to Francis and the late Janet (Berta) Horn.

She grew up in Gillette in the midst of wonderful friends and family. Sadly, her mother passed in 1988, but this shaped Sheila into the beautiful woman she would become.

Sheila graduated Campbell County High School in 1994 as Valedictorian. She competed in debate and participated in several activities and clubs while in high school. After graduation, she attended University of Wyoming, in Laramie where she earned dual degrees in elementary and special education.

While in high school, she met Nathan Ker in chemistry class and became his wife on June 17, 1995. High school sweethearts to the end, Sheila and Nathan started their married life in Laramie, while finishing school.

After college, Sheila and Nathan moved to Pomona, Calif., for Nathan to attend medical school. Sheila taught in Upland, Calif., in special education during those four years.

The real joy of their time in California was the birth of their first son, Andrew John Ker, on Nov. 3, 1999.

Family and further training after medical school brought Sheila and Nathan back to Wyoming where they settled in Casper.

Sheila and Nathan welcomed two more children, Alexis Janet Ker on April 24, 2004, and Aiden Joseph Ker on Sept. 17, 2009, to their family. Though Sheila loved working at Crest Hill Elementary School and Manor Heights Elementary school, she took time off from teaching after the birth of Aiden in 2009 and spent her days raising children and keeping her husband in line.

Sheila was a beautiful woman, with a kind heart and tender smile for everyone. She valued community and friendships and family above all else. This was evident in her crafts and baking, which were her passions in life. She baked special cakes, made holidays extra special, and crafted many quilts.

Sheila continued to find ways in the classroom as well, and visited Alexis’ class often as a mother and assistant to her teachers. She loved to spend time watching her children compete in sporting events from swimming to baseball, basketball to football, and dance and gymnastics as well. Her life revolved around her family and her love for her children was beyond measure.

Outside of the home and outside of working, Sheila enjoyed nature and walks in the woods, snow-shoeing, and time at the family summer cabins. The simplicity of a walk in the forest or a ride on the Hoback Ranches brought great joy to Sheila’s heart. She enjoyed riding bikes with the children and leisurely reading at home, too.

Most of all, Sheila enjoyed making her house into a home, and remodeling was a theme of the Ker household. One of her last projects was a bay window seat in the future “reading room” in the home. Sheila would not stand for a formal room where people could not gather and visit with a free heart and mind.

Hobbies and home aside, Sheila lived for Christmas as well — and a celebration of the season could always be seen in her home which grew to eight Christmas trees at the time of her passing. She became renowned for her dedication to the holidays and making them special. Leprechauns were known to visit the Ker house on St. Patrick’s day, fire work shows and 4th of July barbecues and water fights were the normal events for the year. Sheila always felt the holidays should be special and felt they were material from which all memories were sewn.

Sheila deeply valued her relationships in her communities of Casper, and most recently of Centennial, Colo. She was a great friend, organizer of book clubs, and several community events.

She deeply believed in God and His divine influence on the family. In Centennial, Sheila found a church home at Smokey Hill United Methodist Church. However busy Sheila was creating for others or serving God, she was always there for her family and her heart truly belonged to them.

Sheila is survived by her husband of 17 years, Nathan Ker; her three beautiful children, Andrew (12 years), Alexis (8 years) and Aiden (3 years); her brothers, Dusty Horn and Russell Horn; stepsisters, Sandi Willey and Jesse Willey; father, Francis Horn and stepmother, Vicki Horn.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Janet (Berta) Horn.

Though our hearts are broken at this news, a celebration of her life will take place this Friday at 1 p.m. at Smokey Hill United Methodist Church in Aurora, Colo.

Details of the service can be found online at http://www.horancares.com/.

For those that wish to send something in lieu of flowers, a memorial fund as been arranged as the Sheila K. Ker Memorial Fund. Nathan will match any contributions to this fund in a donation to the American Heart Association in Sheila’s ever-lasting memory.