Michael J. Dowling, 63, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, passed away at Davis Hospice Center on Saturday August 19, 2017; a short 20 months after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

Michael was born October 20, 1953, in Sheridan, Wyoming, a son of James E. and Mary T. (Boca) Dowling. He graduated from Sheridan High School in 1972 and then headed to the University of Wyoming where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and economics in 1977. Michael married the love of his life, Beverly Copeland, in August of 1978. They had been across the street neighbors and friends from a very early age. It was a perfect love story that rarely exists.

After college and marriage, Michael and Beverly moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming to begin their careers and build their lives together. Michael started his banking career for the State of Wyoming as a bank examiner and continued working in the banking industry until 2016. He ended his career as the market president, senior relationship manager at US Bank in Cheyenne.

Michael was passionate about civic and service organizations in Cheyenne. He enjoyed volunteering with Cheyenne Frontier Days Public Relations Committee, Cheyenne Kiwanis Club, Cheyenne Frontier Days Heels Organization, Cheyenne Family YMCA, United Way, Cowboy Joe Club, UW Alumni Association and more. Mike was involved in the community and took extraordinary pride in his roles serving Cheyenne. He is a past president of both the Cheyenne Kiwanis Club and the Cheyenne Family YMCA, and past chairman of the Cheyenne-Laramie County Regional Planning Commission. Michael was a 1994 graduate of the Chamber’s Leadership Cheyenne program and a 2013 graduate of Leadership Wyoming. In 2015, Mike was named the Chamber’s Person of the Year, its highest and most prestigious award, for his lengthy record of outstanding achievement and his dedication and commitment to the community of Cheyenne.

Michael possessed a true zest for life. He worked hard so that he could enjoy his many passions. He enjoyed bird hunting, fishing, traveling, sports, and golf, but most of all spending time with his family and numerous friends. Mike loved to be out hunting with his three best bird dogs, Karl, Ru and Nesta. We hope wherever he is, the birds are plentiful and his shots don’t miss.

Michael is survived by his loving wife, Beverly E. Dowling of Cheyenne; four children, Margaret and Matthew Cox of Rawlins, WY, Elizabeth “Libby” and Joe Storc of Durango, CO, Matthew and Lisa Dowling of Cashmere, WA, and Michelle Dowling of Cheyenne; his mother, Mary T. Dowling of Sheridan, WY; five grandchildren, Ivy Storc, Gabrielle “Ella” Dowling, Abitha “Abi” Dowling, Grayson Cox and Caroline Cox; and brother, Patrick Dowling of Casper, father and mother in law, Roy and Louise Copeland of Cheyenne.

He is preceded in death by his father, James E. Dowling.

A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 23, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Father August Koeune as celebrant. Cremation is under the care of Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cheyenne Kiwanis Foundation, the Cheyenne Family YMCA, the Cheyenne Frontier Day’s Volunteer Crisis Fund, or the Davis Hospice Center.

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