Bennie "Ben" Lloyd Horner, 75, of Sundance, WY, died Monday, May 11, 2009 at Sundance Assisted Living.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00a.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at Saint Patrick's Catholic Church in Moorcroft, WY, with Father Peter James Mwaura and Deacon Kim Carroll as Celebrants. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the Mass at the church. A graveside service will be held at a later date at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Solomon, KS.

Ben was born August 15, 1933 at Junction City, KS to Cora Myrtle Day Horner and Edward Calvin Horner. He attended country school in Junction City through fifth grade and then moved to Solomon, KS, where he graduated from high school in 1951. Ben married his childhood sweetheart, Jean Marie Sullivan, on January 31, 1952, and to this union five children were born: Catherine Jo, Bernard Joe, Cynthia Jo, Brandon Joe, and Bradley Joe.

During his school years, Ben was a very good student and participated in many extracurricular activities, including football, basketball, track, baseball, music, band, and drama. He was particularly fond of football, and received the honor as the Solomon Gorilla's Homecoming King. He was voted the most likeable boy in high school, and nicknamed "Pretty Boy." He also earned a scholarship to play football at Kansas University, but instead chose the path of marriage and the United States Navy Reserves. Ben began his career in the dry cleaning business. He served in this profession over 50 years. He was first employed at the Solomon Dry cleaners in Solomon, KS and then moved to Salina, KS where he worked at Quinley Dry Cleaners, Model Laundry Dry Cleaners, and Band Box Cleaners. He moved his family to Phillipsburg, KS in 1967 after purchasing his own dry cleaning business. While operating the cleaners, Ben expanded his small business operations to include a fast food restaurant, paint subcontractor, and antique dealer.

Ben was an active member in his community, participating in the Knights of Columbus, Rotary Club, and Chamber of Commerce. He coached Little League Baseball for many years and was involved with the Boys Scouts, serving as secretary. Ben was a family man and enjoyed taking his family on outings to the theater and drive-in movies. He loved the mountains and took his family on vacation each summer to Colorado Springs, CO. Ben especially enjoyed his hobby of collecting radios and was honored to exhibit part of his collection at the Dane Hansen Museum in Logan, KS. He also enjoyed traveling to flea markets and trading and collecting antiques.

Ben will be remembered as a man of integrity, honesty, and humility; loved and respected by all who had the privilege to know him. His strength of character, mischievous sense of humor, steadiness, and selflessness earned him a reputation as a gracious man known as "Gentle Ben." Throughout the past several years of steady declining health, he never complained. He was always grateful to awaken to a new day and share his life with the people he loved and the people who loved him. Words are inadequate to express how dearly he was loved and how much he will be missed.

Cherished and loved, he is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jean Horner of Sundance; his five children, Catherine (Lonnie) Kellerman of Stockton, KS; Bernard (Rita) Horner of Phillipsburg, KS, Cynthia (Don) Clonch of Moorcroft, WY; Brandon Horner of Hugoton, KS; Bradley Horner and Richard Goldberg of Montclair, NJ; seventeen grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren on the way. He is also survived by his two sisters, Ruth Galloway of Topeka, KS and Eva Reese of Abilene, KS and his brother, Charles (Laveta) Horner of Chapman, KS. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, George, and his granddaughter, Natalie Kathleen Clonch.

Memorials have been established for Sharon's Home Health/Treasured Memories Hospice of Moorcroft and Sundance Assisted Living Center of Sundance. Memorials and condolences may be sent to the family of Ben Horner, PO Box 156, Moorcroft, WY 82721.