Kay Hirsig Picard
July 29, 1933 – February 19, 2026
Kay (Hirsig) Picard passed away February 19, 2026 in Lander, WY after a brief illness. Kay was born July 29, 1933 in Grand Forks, ND, and grew up in Cheyenne with her parents Marian (Severson) and Charles W. Hirsig II.
She spoke fondly of an idyllic childhood venturing off with friends, cousins and her pony and cart. Kay approached life with faith, humor and a sense of fun. There were many cherished stories of high school adventures with good friends that she remained close with for life.
Kay graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1951. She attended the University of Wyoming and was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. At UW she met Vincent Verl Picard of Worland, WY and they were wed in Cheyenne on January 22, 1955.
The couple lived in Kayenta, AZ after Vincent’s graduation from UW for five years, returning to Laramie for Vincent to pursue a Law Degree and Kay to finish her undergraduate degree in medical technology, graduating in 1963.
They made their home in Laramie welcoming two children, Lindy in 1965 and David in 1967. Together Kay and Vince built a home filled with laughter and entertaining. Saturday UW football games often began with huevos rancheros at the Picard’s and ended well into the evenings, many punctuated by cousin Eloise Shaw’s infectious laugh.
Kay served on the Altar Guild of St. Matthew’s Cathedral for over thirty years, volunteered as a docent at the Laramie Plains Museum, was an avid UW Cowboy Football and Basketball fan, a life member of the UW Alumni Association and a supporter of the Cowboy Joe Club Steer-a-Year program with her husband and family members and a 50-year member of P.E.O. Chapter W. In the last years of her life Kay celebrated 24 years of sobriety with AA.
Kay moved to the ranch in Shoshoni in 2015. Although missing her many friends in Laramie she was able to spend quality time with her daughter, son-in-law and grandkids. She welcomed her first great-grandchild in 2024.
She was preceded in death by her husband Vincent Verl Picard (2004), parents and brother Jim.
She is survived by her daughter Lindy (Tom) Linn, Shoshoni, WY, son David (Annemarie) of Cheyenne, WY, grandchildren Justin Linn, Megan Linn Antone (Drew) all of Shoshoni, WY, Jacy Rudloff, Cheyenne, WY, Vincent B. Picard of College Station, TX and one great-grandson, Blaze Antone.
Kay’s wish was to be cremated and her ashes spread at the 2B Ranch on Lysite Mountain. A memorial service will be held March 23, 2026 at 11am at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Laramie.
Coming from a Wyoming pioneer ranch family and marrying into one, keeping history alive was important to her. Friends wishing to make donations are encouraged to support their local pioneer museum, the Old West Museum in Cheyenne or your local animal shelter.
On-line condolence for the family may be made at TheDavisFuneralHome.com
Arrangements under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Crematory, and Monuments of Riverton, Wyoming.