DARLENE LARUE (COUCH) GREGORY

Darlene Larue Couch, 77, of Rolling Hills, Wyuoming died Monday, December 29, 2025 at the Memorial Hospital of Converse County in Douglas, Wyoming.

Darlene was born Tuesday, January 20, 1948 to Darlene B. (Veeh) and Arthur L. Couch in Phillipsburg, Kansas.  She was raised in Phillipsburg, Kansas with her family who included two sisters, Carman and Carol.  She graduated from Phillipsburg High School and attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.  She later joined the United States Navy and while serving her country, met and married Houston Hamm who was also serving in the Navy.   They had one son, Houston Brady Hamm.  

Darlene’s nickname was Junior because she was named after her mother, Darlene Couch.  Everyone called her Junior, and she was a curious adventurer and risk taker in many ways.  She was a beautiful horsewoman who competed in horse shows around the state.  She excelled in barrel racing and keg bending with her beloved horse, Sonny.   Junior also entered the field of stock car racing and became the first woman in Kansas to win the coveted prize of Trophy Dash Stock Car.  She later worked for the Kansas Nebraska Gas Company and was transferred to Casper, Wyoming.  She retired in Glenrock, Wyoming where she had a house, land for horses, and a huge barn for feral cats.  She loved all animals especially cats. Her son, Brady Hamm, is a motorcycle enthusiast, and Junior helped him to attend a special school in Arizona for maintenance and repair of motorcycles.  One exciting experience that she and Brady had was a biker trip from Phillipsburg, Kanas to Great Falls, Montana.  Junior was especially fond of her daughter-in-law, Shannon.  She was also proud of her granddaughter, Halex, who is a promising student in the STEM program for gifted students.  STEM is for students excelling in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

Darlene Junior was preceded in death by her parents, Darlene on April 18, 1995 and Arthur on April 6, 2001 and her husband, Houston Hamm. 

She is survived by her son, Houston Brady Hamm; her daughter-in-law Shannon Hamm; a granddaughter Halex Hamm; two sisters, Carman and Carol; and nieces and nephew, Tracey, Diane, and Shane.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Darlene’s home in Rolling Hills at a later date.

The Gorman Funeral Homes-Converse Chapel of Douglas, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com 

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