Tyler Ross Meeks

1983 - 2016

Tyler Ross Meeks

Tyler Ross Meeks, a great-grandson of the West, went to the sand hills on Thursday, April 28, 2016, from his home in Shelburne Falls, Mass. Ty was born Nov. 29, 1983 in Great Falls and attended schools there until 1998 when he moved to Highwood with his parents for high school.

During Ty's school years, he was a remarkable athlete and superb downhill skier. After his high school career he began to fulfill his wanderlust and love for adventure, first cowboying for ranchers in the Highwood area then working as a packer and guide in the Big Country. He spent two summers with Mule Shoe Outfitters in Glacier Park, a season in the Wrangell St. Elias Range in Alaska, two seasons working for Bob Marshall Wilderness Outfitters, a season at Capitol Reef National Monument in southern Utah, two seasons at the Box R Ranch in Cora, Wyo., and a season for Absaroka Beartooth Outfitters south of Big Timber, Mont. While Ty was not a horseback, he always landed on his feet, working construction in the offseason for Sletten Construction, for the Baker Boys at Craftmaster Cabinets, for his grandfather at Henen Land Surveying, or pounding nails in Big Sky or Bozeman. Every winter for 27 years, no matter where Ty lived he made it to Showdown Ski Area for one day of downhill fun.

At the Box R in Cora, Wyo., Ty met the love of his life. Gillian Elizabeth (Libby) O'Flaherty and her mother were visitors there from Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire. Skilled horsewomen of the New England variety, they came to Wyoming to ride the working horses of the west. The first meeting between Ty and Libby was one of interest, and in the second season the Zane Grey novel came true. The love and commitment was incredible as the remarkable duo traveled the country from California to Maine to New York City, with Libby doing freelance commercial art work and Ty picking up jobs as they went. Finally, Libby talked Ty off a horse for good and into Farrier School in Bozeman. From there they set up shop in the Paradise Valley south of Livingston until disaster struck Tyler in March 2014 with a brain tumor. After emergency surgery in Great Falls, they journeyed east to Libby's home turf and Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, who's expert doctors helped Ty fight a most deadly illness for over 2 years. Amidst treatment in June of 2014 Ty and Libby were married at Libby's family home in New Hampshire and they marched courageously through treatment together. When Libby's nieces fell victim to circumstance, Ty and Libby gained custody of the two girls and formed a wonderful family in the face of deadly illness. After two major surgeries and two years of sickness, Ty's body gave out at their home in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.

Tyler is survived by his loving wife Libby of Shelburne Falls, Mass., parents Lyle Jay Meeks of Highwood and Valerie Henen Cooper (Mark Cooper) of Great Falls, brother Jared Meeks (Celeste Maxwell) of Highwood, grandmother Marge Henen of Great Falls , mother-in-law Ginny Boyd of Gilmanton Iron Works, N.H., father-in-law Tom O'Flaherty in Vermont, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandmother Shirley Meeks Lucas, grandfather Donald Henen, grandfather Vern Meeks and step-grandfather Ted Lucas.

His family and friends will miss his big smile, keen sense of humor, cooking, fire starting "advice," rhythm on the dance floor, his work ethic, and so much more. Goodbye Tyler, we love you and miss you dearly.

A memorial celebration of Ty's life and luncheon will be held at the Highwood Community Hall at 1 p.m., Saturday May 28, 2016.