John Patrick Healey, M.D. was born October 16, 1949, to Lt. Col. Patrick Henry Healey & Bette (Mayer) Bibin Healey at Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, Wyoming. John has 2 sisters (Patricia and Rosemarie) and 2 brothers (Frank and James). After living in several states (WY, NE, TX, NY, CA, AL, back to CA, then finally to WY) as a youth, John’s father retired and settled in his hometown of Pinedale, Wyoming. John graduated from Pinedale High School in 1968 where he was very involved in FFA, music and sports including the All-Conference Football team. In his younger years he was known as JP to his friends and played in several bands.

During his youth, John spent several years working for his grandmother, Mary Faler. at Faler’s Camp (White Pine Lodge). He helped prepare the horses to take “dudes” into the Bridger Wilderness, shoveled horse poop, and with his dad and brothers generally did what was needed for “dudes” to have a good time. Mary Faler and her son, Patrick, and John and his brother Jim were mentioned in Sports Illustrated and Better Camping magazines.

After graduation John attended one year of college at the University of Wyoming in Laramie before being drafted—which lasted about 2 1/2 months because of bad knees. He was proud of his limited time in the Army.

In college, John was unsure of his final destination, starting in Honors Chemistry and switching to a BA in Zoology with a minor in Nursing. One of his funny stories about his degree in Zoology/Fisheries is he does not like to eat fish.

After graduation, John (still JP) became a machinist, a scientific instrument maker building equipment that went up to space in rockets onto satellites. He also was on the ski patrol where he became interested in medical issues and decided on a nursing career.

John attended the University of Utah and received his MS as a Nurse Practitioner and wanted to serve rural areas. He focused on emergency medical skills, and his first ER position was at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. He wanted a work-life balance that provided lifestyle independence allowing skiing time. Lifestyle independence became his motto. Eventually, John became part of the management team and then began teaching at the University of Utah School of Nursing. He enjoyed the classroom and the clinical time.

The next career move for John was to attend Creighton University in Omaha, NE, fulfilling a Dr. of Medicine degree (1991), where he made the decision to switch from ER to Family Medicine. After residency, he took a position in the Cheyenne ER acute ambulatory care. He made several changes after that—to Big Piney, Marbleton & Evanston, Wyoming, and Park City, Utah. Looking for another change, John joined the University of Wyoming student health and transitioned to Gem City Bone and Joint in Cheyenne for sports medicine where he volunteered with the Wyoming Cowboys football team and loved it!

After starting a freestanding ER in Cheyenne, John moved to residency at the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. It was here that John found his place. From 2009-2019 John headed the University of Wyoming Family Medicine Residency Program in Cheyenne. His teaching interest had grown and when asked at age 60 what his final career goal or ultimate job would be, he responded: “I’m here.” “I’m a teacher—I teach doctors how to be doctors.”

Throughout this time, John continued exploring his passion for quality of life, which included spending time with friends, enjoying the outdoors and playing with his many “toys.” He especially enjoyed driving and owned several very nice fast cars. John enjoyed skiing, driving his UTV, and he climbed to the top of Devils Tower 3 times. John volunteered throughout his career providing medical services at Frontier Days, the Wyoming State Legislature, Jurassic Camp of the Cub Scouts, Cheyenne Comea homeless shelter, Health fairs and skiing events. He prided himself in communication with his knowledge and his bantering humor. He valued autonomy, learning new skills and lifestyle balance.

John was always grateful for his co-workers and friends in Cheyenne, especially his cousins Mike and Terese Peel and long-time friends Dr. Jason Bloomberg and Dr. Ted Fox.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Bette Bibin Healey, and brother, Frank Bibin. John is survived by his sisters: Pati Heath (Paul) of Kalispell, MT and Rose Kelly (Terry) of Laurel, MT, a brother; Jim Healey (Gwen) of Rawlins, WY and many nieces (9) and nephews (3).

A Vigil and Remembrances will be held on June 10 at 7 PM at Schrader, Aragon, Jacoby Funeral Home. On June 11 at 10:30 AM Funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1836 Hot Springs Ave in Cheyenne. A reception luncheon will follow. Internment, with military honor guard, will be at Olivet Cemetery at 1:30. All who admired and loved John are encouraged to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Comea Homeless Shelter, Holy Trinity Catholic Church or a charity of your choosing.