Shirley Dawn Wright Lilley

Shirley Dawn Wright Lilley was born August 29, 1932, in Cheyenne, to Alan and Nina Wright. Her father was a bricklayer by trade, but also a very skilled horseman who trained horses for his family and others. In high school, Shirley helped with the training. She said, “He took the buck out, I put the miles on.” The family moved to Laramie where attended Laramie High School and the University of Wyoming. In 1952, Shirley and Frank Lilley were married. That year, they moved to the 57,000-acre Chimney Rock Ranch in Albany County, where they spent the next 35 years, as ranch managers. Shirley worked on the ranch, helping with every part of the cattle operation. In 1964, the ranch sold to the Chimney Rock Grazing Association. This group of 48 farmers, mostly in Colorado, grazed 5,000 head of cattle on the ranch with 50 different brands. Shirley rode miles in the summer checking, doctoring and moving cattle. In the fall, she helped gather, sort and ship the cattle back to their owners.