Obituary: Rlea Vera (Sutphin) Gerhart

Rlea Gerhart passed away at the young age of 58 on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011, at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah. Rlea was born in Casper, Wyo., on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1952. She was graduated from Natrona County High School of Casper in 1970 then attended Casper College for a short time thereafter. Rlea had a passion for gymnastics and dance, she operated a school for a while in Casper. Other interests were motorcycle racing, painting, and genealogical research. She also loved to play the guitar where she played and sang in a small group in Rangely called the “Home Grown Pickers” during the ‘80s. Rlea and her family lived in Rangely from 1973 to 1988 during which her husband Joe worked for Chevron. They then moved to Vernal, Utah, until 1990 when they returned home to Casper, Wyo.Rlea worked with her husband Joe for Neward Corporation and Matrix Production Company for nearly 15 years after they returned to Casper. Most importantly, Rlea was a distinguished homemaker. Some of Rlea’s greatest pleasures were her 4 grandchildren and hosting family gatherings.Rlea was preceded in death by her father, James LeRoy Sutphin of Casper, Wyo. She is survived by her mother Imogene Josephine (Harris) Sutphin of Casper; two brothers Wade and Keven Sutphin both of Casper; her husband of 37 years Joseph Lee Gerhart of Casper; three children, Ronny Bert Minchow of Pierre, S.D., Joseph Lee Gerhart II of Casper and James Vance Gerhart of Casper; and four wonderful grandchildren. A visitation and service to celebrate Rlea’s life was held at Newcomers Funeral Home on Feb. 4, 2011.