Danny Kay Cantlin, 76, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family on Aug. 27, in Fort Bridger, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Danny was born on April 4, 1948, to John William “Jack” Cantlin and Eudora Hysell Cantlin, the oldest sibling to his brother Gary, and twin sisters Millie Elaine and Nellie Ilene.
He graduated from Mountain View High School in 1966. Dan didn’t spend much time doing extracurricular activities in school because he needed to be home to help his dad on the family ranch after losing his mom at a young age.
Dan was drafted into the Army and served in the Vietnam War but, before he left, he married his first love, Donna Jean Widdop, on Dec. 27, 1968.
Dan served in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1970 and returned home with honors. Not long after returning home, Dan and Donna started a family and together and had two children, Becky and Greg. They later divorced.
Dan spent his entire life working on the family ranch located near Bridger Butte. He also spent time over the years working for the Wyoming Highway Department and Mountain Fuel. Dan proudly ended his working career by retiring from Mountain View School District No. 4 after 30 years.
He spent many hours driving route buses and activity buses around the state and later spent time in the maintenance department for the school district.
Dan loved working for the community and the kids. He formed lifelong friendships with those he worked with.
On April 3, 1993, Dan married his next love, Annetta Dye Mosher, and with this marriage he was proud to add his two bonus children, Jeff and Charlee, to his family.
Dan and Annetta spent many years doing the things they loved together. Traveling was always one of their favorite things to do. He enjoyed spending time with his family, hunting with the boys, fishing in Alaska, four-wheeling with friends, and he was an avid collector of all things. You could always find him outside working, and he was quite the handyman.
Wherever Dan and Annetta were in their day-to-day travels, you were sure to meet one, two or maybe even three of their four-legged friends. Their most recent pups were Maggie, Chloe and Gracie, who spent a lot of time right by his side over the last few years as Dan traveled from state to state, watching the rodeos on the Cowboy Channel from his comfy recliner.
He loved his puppies, and they loved him. Dan had a huge heart and was a quiet, gentle man.
Dan is survived by his wife, Annetta; daughter, Becky (Wes) Lupher; son, Greg (Nocona) Cantlin; bonus son, Jeff (Lucy) Mosher; bonus daughter, Charlee (Tom) Asmus; brother, Gary Cantlin; sister, Millie (Ern) Stacey; stepsister, Susan (Jim) Loeh-lein; grandchildren, Stormy (Karsten), Logan (Kaytlin), Madison, Hannah, Clay, Brock, Angelica, Rachell, Levi, Alex, Mark, Juliet, Harper and RaeLeigh; great-grandson, Hesston; great-granddaughter, baby Lupher, coming in January of 2025; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, family, and friends, whom he loved dearly.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents; his parents, Jack and Eudora Cantlin; sister, Nellie Ilene Cantlin; sister in-law, Shelley Cantlin; stepmom, Mazie Cantlin; mother-in-law, Dorthy Davidson; sister-in-law, Judy Dye; and brother-in-law, Mike Miracle.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Heart of the Valley Baptist Church in Mountain View. The viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Interment will be in the Milburn Cemetery with full military honors.
A luncheon will follow at the American Legion Hall in Fort Bridger.
