The Riverton community is mourning the loss of Clarence “Butch” Vernon Baty, Jr., a 73-year-old resident whose decades of dedicated work, musical performances, and love for the Wyoming outdoors left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. He passed away on February 26, 2026, surrounded by the memories of a life lived fully in the state he called home.
Born in North Platte, Nebraska, on December 28, 1952, to Clarence Vernon Baty and Betty Jane Moore Baty, Butch eventually made his way to Wyoming, where he would spend the majority of his life building a reputation as someone reliable, hardworking, and genuinely warm. For nineteen years, he served the State of Wyoming with quiet dedication, contributing to public services that residents relied upon daily.
Following that chapter, he spent twenty-one years as Maintenance Supervisor for the Sundowner Motel, where his meticulous attention to detail kept the property operating smoothly and his friendly demeanor made him a favorite among both staff and guests.
Beyond his professional life, Butch possessed a creative spirit that found expression through music. As part of Butch Baty and the Sundance Kids, he shared his lifelong passion for Elvis Presley with audiences across the region. His performances brought the King’s music to life at local events, drawing smiles and sometimes tears from listeners transported by familiar melodies. Those who saw him perform remember not just the music but the joy he radiated while sharing it, a joy that proved contagious to everyone in attendance.
When not working or performing, Butch could be found in the landscapes he loved. Hunting, fishing, and four-wheeling took him across Wyoming’s terrain, where he found peace and adventure in equal measure. These excursions were often shared with friends and family, creating memories that those who accompanied him now hold precious. His enthusiasm for the outdoors reflected a deeper appreciation for the state’s natural beauty and a desire to experience it fully while he could.
In Riverton, where Butch lived and worked for so many years, neighbors and acquaintances remember him as someone approachable and consistently positive. He moved through daily life with a warmth that made people feel comfortable, a reliability that made them trust him, and a generosity that made them feel valued. These qualities accumulated over decades into a legacy of connection that the community now reflects upon in grief.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Davis Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Mountain View Cemetery. These gatherings will bring together the community Butch helped build through years of service, the audiences he entertained, the friends who joined him outdoors, and the family who knew him best. They will share stories of Elvis performances, of hunting trips, of maintenance work done right, and of a man whose presence made Riverton a little warmer and a little more connected.