Joseph Ballard Stratton

     Joseph Ballard Stratton of Medicine Bow, Wyoming, passed away on October 2, 2023. He was 72 years old. Joe was born in Rawlins, Wyoming, on December 2, 1950, to Norman and Merle Ballard Stratton. He graduated from Rawlins High School in 1969. He attended Casper College and dabbled in auctioneering, car sales, and repossessions. Joe was also a real estate sales associate for Wyoming Ranch Company for many years. He loved the land and was proud to be a Wyoming native.

     Joe worked at the McCarty Ranch where he fell in love with the countryside, and at his request, will be his final resting place. Joe will be remembered as a genuine, loving and big hearted cowboy. He could talk to anyone, anywhere,about everything; he never forgot a name or a face. He always made jokes and tried to make people laugh. His giggle snort, when he made a particularly good joke, will be remembered by all. Joe loved his friends and family and always had a canine companion by his side; whether in his truck or on his four wheeler. He was a hardworking man who had the stubbornness of a mule and the heart of a lion.

     Joe is survived by his two daughters, Amantha Stratton of Clarksville,Tennessee and Misty Langwell of Laramie, Wyoming; grandchildren Remington Hillary of Clarksville, Tennessee, Jordan (Samantha) Garcia of Fort Benton, Montana, Kobe Garcia of Manzanita, Oregon, and Mariah Harold of Laramie, Wyoming; great granddaughters Payton and Briar Garcia of Fort Benton, Montana; sister Janet (Albert) Lamarre of Dublin, California; brother Donald (Colleen) Stratton of Rawllins, Wyoming; nieces Debra Zimmerman (Stephen) of Gilbert, Arizona; Meaghan Lamarre of Elkridge, Maryland, Jamie Bennett of Longmont, Colorado; and nephew J Stratton (Jo Kennon) Stratton of Rawlins, Wyoming. Joe was preceded in death by his son Justin (Stratton) Musgrave and his parents Norman Stratton and Merle (Stratton) Pettigrew.

     A celebration of life will be held next summer. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you take the time to enjoy a cup of coffee with the people you hold dear. Joe could often be found enjoying a cup of coffee swapping stories with his many friends (mostly fish stories).