Thomas Guy Ames was born Jan. 10, 1943, to Thomas “Patrick” and Helen Ames in Greybull, Wyo. Raised in Cody, Wyo., and Midland, Texas, Tom graduated high school in Midland with the class of 1961. He attended college at Texas A&M where he learned vet skills and horseshoeing.
On Dec. 30, 1964, he married Sharon Collins in Sheridan, Wyo. He adopted her two boys Monte Ames and Jeff Ames. They had two children – Stephanie Ames and Thomas “Dean” Ames. The family returned to Cody, Wyo., where Tom worked as a hunting guide in the North Fork Crandall Creek area. They later separated.
Since 1978, Tom started his own business, Roadrunner Welding, as a rig welder, and was self-employed until he retired. He took great pride in his work and was able to travel throughout the states as a pipeliner.
In 1991, Tom met Lisa Piernick. They were married Oct. 20, 2002, at Big Rock Candy Mountain, Utah. They had two children – Chance Ames and Shelby Ames. The family resided in Pavillion, Wyo., and then later moved to Big Piney, Wyo.
Tom lived by the Code of the West and practiced those values every day. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter. He enjoyed his horses and you could always find him behind the chutes at a rodeo telling “stories.”
He was a devoted father and loving husband, who spent most of his time traveling with his younger children all over Wyoming to junior high and high school rodeos.
Survivors include four sons Monte Ames, Jeff Ames and Dean Ames (wife Ashley), all of Dallas, Texas, Chance Ames of Big Piney, Wyo., two daughters Stephanie Ames of Dallas, Texas, and Shelby Ames of Rock Springs, Wyo., former wife and loyal companion Lisa Ames of Rock Springs, Wyo., one brother Richard Ames (wife Katy) of Spokane, Wash., cousins Bonnie Brown (husband Gary) of Cody, Wyo., Penny Caines (husband Tom) of Shoshoni, Wyo., Jim Wilson of Shell, Wyo., Yvonne Kinkade of Cheyenne, Wyo., and the Preator family.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, May 20, 2017, in Big Piney, Wyo., at the Congregational Church.
