Jim "Sprack" Spracklen passed away on Sept. 19th at his home in Richland, Washington, at the age of 92.

He and Marcia enjoyed 66 years of marriage, and very active retirement years.

Dad was born in Sheridan, Wyoming on Jan. 15, 1924, attended schools through high school in Sheridan, and joined the Navy at the onset of WWII, serving in the Atlantic for the duration of the war. After the war, he graduated from the University of Wyoming, met Mom, and they married in 1950.

He worked for KWYO radio in their early marriage, then went to work for Governor Gage in Cheyenne in 1960, heading up the Wyoming Travel Commission. In 1963, we moved to Denver, when he joined the public relations firm of Lorrie, Lotito, and Wescott.

In 1966, he moved us to Story, Wyoming where he realized his dream of owning his own business, and operated the Lodore nightclub for six years. While it was a tough road for Mom and Dad, the years our family spent in Story were the best times of our lives, and all three sons learned to work for a living—providing the dishwashing, cooking, and janitor work for Lodore.

In 1972, we moved into Sheridan, when Dad returned to work at KWYO, doing the marketing and the sportscasts for high school football and basketball, American Legion baseball, and Sheridan College basketball. He was an outstanding sports announcer, stemming from his great athletic abilities in his younger days.

Eventually, Dad went to work for his great friend, Scotty Scott, at First Interstate Bank in Sheridan, and they shared many great adventures working together for many years, before Dad retired around 1990.

He and Mom relocated to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for retirement, where they could travel and golf without the severe winters of Wyoming. They spent twenty years with great memories in Arkansas, and traveling from there to many places around the world and across the U.S.

In 2011, Mom and Dad decided to move to Kennewick, Washington, to be close to two of their three sons, as they knew their health was fading. They enjoyed good years in their condo in Kennewick, spending time with family, and at the family cabin in northern Washington. Dad had an accomplished life, in football, baseball, and basketball, then serving in WII, graduating from college, building a good family that remains exceptionally close to this day, providing for his family, helping to found Sheridan College, and serving the community through many organizations such as the Elks Club, Rotary, the Quarterback Club, and others.

He loved fly-fishing with buddies like Sam Mavrakis, traveling and playing golf with friends such as Rody Rotellini and Art Felker, sports casting with Scotty, and spending time with his wife, his boys and their families, and his grandkids.

He is survived by his wonderful wife of 66 years, Marcia, his sons Mike, Larry "aka Jay" (Lori), and Jim (Carol), and many grandchildren, and his beloved dog, Lexie.

At the wishes of Dad, there won't be any service, but he wanted contributions to be made to the Sheridan County Library.

The Sheridan Press – Oct. 3, 2016.