Damond McKinney: December 4, 1972 – October 31, 2022.
Damond Michael McKinney was born to Roxine McKinney and Oscar (“Butch”) McKinney in Des Moines, Iowa, on December 4, 1972. Damond passed away on October 31, 2022, in Casper due to unknown medical conditions. He spent his youth alongside his sister, Myeshea, and brother, Walter, helping them navigate through life as they grew up.
Damond grew up in Des Moines, Iowa. He could always be found with a host of aunts, uncles and so many cousins.
Damond (Beatle Juice) graduated from Kelly Walsh in 1990, where many knew him as a goofy, loving, MISCHIEVOUS, and ornery young man. Best known for his Jungle Juice he made every Halloween.
Damond worked in a variety of restaurants in Casper, doing what he loved, COOKING. He also spent his lifetime helping his older sister raise her eight children.
In 1998 Damond and Debbie Bernard gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Ginah McKinney. His daughter was his best friend, protector, and safe space. These two had an unbreakable bond and always stood by each other’s side no matter what life threw at them.
Damond is survived by his daughter Ginah Mckinney, siblings Myeshea and Oscar McKinney, granddaughter Alianna, soulmate Tara Jimenez, and 21 nieces and nephews.
Damond was preceded in death by his mother Roxine McKinney, father Oscar (“Butch”) McKinney, brother Walter McKinney, and maternal and paternal grandparents.
The family asks in lieu of flowers that you consider a donation to Damond’s GoFundMe to cover final expenses.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bustard & Jacoby Funeral Home, 600 CY Ave., Casper, WY 82601.
James “Jim” DeRop: 1940 – 2022
It is with a heavy heart we share the passing of James “Jim” Leon DeRop, 82, departing peacefully the morning of November 7, 2022, in Casper, Wyoming.
Jim was born in 1940 in New York City, New York, and then subsequently moved to the Bronx, where he began his primary education and spent the first eight years of his early life. It was likely during this early period when his “street sense” emerged, which he honed and utilized throughout his 82 years of life. His family moved to Michigan in 1948, where he completed his secondary education and enjoyed playing basketball on the high school team.
In 1958, after completing high school, Jim joined the Army and was stationed in the states of Nevada and New Mexico. Post-service, Jim joined the travel industry, working at Western Airlines for nearly 20 years. His exemplary employment at Western Airlines was rewarded with several promotions and relocations, marked by spending time in the states of Washington, California, Colorado and ultimately Wyoming. It was with Western Airlines that he found his lust for travel and the life-changing experiences that his international work assignments brought. His passion for travel ultimately led to joining World Wide Travel in 1986. Along with two business partners, Jim led World Wide Travel as an owner and President for 30 years. He was a man of adventure and traveled around the world for most of his life, always seeking to understand and to improve the life of the communities he visited. While he was very proud of the fact he visited 69 countries, he was always planning and plotting a path to visit more.
Outside of travel, Jim enjoyed staying active with city and state initiatives, serving on several boards including the United Way, Ambassador to the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Wildcatters, the Airport Board, and several economic Development Boards. He was known as a “Go Big or Go Home” guy.
Maybe most importantly, he was a man of generosity and love. He ardently loved people and consistently sought to help anyone in need; he voraciously loved the city of Casper and the state of Wyoming, and he reveled in exposing younger generations to the joy of international travel.
Lastly, Jim enjoyed 55 years of marriage to his wife Sandy and is survived by his sons Robert (and family) of Northfield, MN, and Dax (and family) of Park City, UT, as well as his daughter Deidre (and family) of Cheyenne, WY. Jim was blessed with and leaves behind eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Please feel welcomed to join us in celebrating his life at 2 p.m., Saturday, November 12, 2022, at Liberty Baptist Church, 1203 South Oak, Casper, Wyoming.
Arrangements are under the direction of Newcomer Casper Chapel.
