Elizabeth Louise Horn November 15, 1941 — December 15, 2019
The Good Lord called home our beloved Gramma Lou December 15, 2019 while surrounded by the love of family and her loyal dog, Princess, at her home on the ranch – just where she wanted to be. He must have needed help feeding Heaven’s chickens and kitties, pitching hay to horses and cows, and someone to ride the pastures horse back.
Elizabeth Louise was born on November 15, 1941 in Denver, CO. She grew up on the family ranch in the Williams Fork area near Kremmling, C0 where she attended school. Shortly after graduating high school, she moved with her family to a new ranch near Ridgeway, CO in 1959. ‘lhe next year, she married Gene Ashley in Ridgeway and started their family. All four children, Lance, Lynn, Lesli, and Lanell were born in Montrose, C0. On November 15, 1977, the family, along with their livestock, moved to Sheridan, MT where they ranched until 2000. They then moved Red Canyon Ranch to where they are today on Rosebud Creek. Louise married Ron Horn August 2, 1986 at the ranch in Sheridan, MT horseback. She was a proud member of the Territorial ‘ Daughters of Colorado.
Louise had such a soft heart and a way with animals. No one was overlooked, she knew each one by name and had the gentle, caring way about her to nurse a fragile kitten back to life or help a newborn calf. She had the kindest of hearts and was a truly selfless, humble person. She was known for being a hard worker and left the family ranch and this world a much better place. Louise instilled a passion for ranching in her children and it has ran deep into the next generations. As a result of her love for horses, in 1960, she started a breeding program of Appaloosa horses which her kids showed across Colorado. Late r, in 1976, the family started breeding Quarter Horses, which has lead to the foundation of Ashley Quarter Horses now in Belt and Forsyth, MT carrying on her legacy. It was a testament to Louise’s dedication when asked to tell the history of our horse breeding program for the October 2018 issue of the Western Horseman magazine and have her devotion to horses and family recognized. Red Canyon Ranch wouldn’t be what it is today without her cracking the whip and keeping everything in line. She was a true horseman and one of her greatest pleasures was being out in God’s great creation, putting in long hours horseback which she did up to shortly before passing. Louise was famous for her delicious home-cooked meals lovingly served around her table in the warmth of her home or out at the branding pen. Gramma Lou’s smile radiated when she would see her grand and great-grand children playing with her kittens, carrying feed buckets, or helping her gather eggs. It was always evident how much she loved her family and we all truly loved her in return. She will certainly be missed by all, but we are comforted in knowing she is in the presence of her personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Louise is survived by her husband of 33 years, Ron Horn, sons Lance (Donna) and Lynn (Carol) Ashley, all of Forsyth, MT; daughter Lesli ( David) Cottom of Dillon, MT; youngest son Lanell (Kelly) Ashley of Belt, MT; step son Lonnie (Kendra) Horn of Sheridan, MT; sisters, Jean Culver of Astoria, OR, Joan (Chuck) Phillips of Dillon, MT, Anamae Richmond of Grand Junction, CO, Norma (Frank) Charles of Buffalo, WY, and brother Dave (Patricia) Dagenhart of Denton, MT; 13 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, as well as many special nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Roberta Dagenhart and granddaughter Kayla Mae Ashley.
In honor of Louise’s kindness, you may donate in her memory to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch or St. Labre Indian School, organizations she long supported. Others may bring bird seed, squirrel feed, or kitty food to her dearly loved animals that she faithfully tended to.
A celebration of her life is being planned for this summer at the Ranch.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Diana Robinette says
Sending heart felt prayers to you Ron and family. Remember all the fun times and memories, I met Louise and Ron at the Rosebud Chapel, very God loving couple, may the Lord Bless her family.
Nancy Pasha says
To the Ashley Family and Ron Horn,
I am so sorry for the loss of this beautiful lady but am thankful the Lord called her home so there was no longer pain and suffering. You have wonderful memories of this sweet lady for the future. May God Bless all of you.
Nancy
De-De Fjelstad says
Sorry for your loss. Your in our prayers
Jamie says
Thought and prayers to the Horn Family.
John Richmond says
Although it has been a long time, the memories remain. May God bless and comfort my Aunt’s family. With love, John & Linda Richmond
Jeanie Wilkinson says
Prayers to the Horn family and Ashley’s. Sorry for your loss.
Anna Belle and Andy Gaasch. says
Sending love and comfort at the time , Leslie and David and all your family. What a dear special woman she was …
Becky Richmond says
This is truly a beautiful tribute to such a special lady. “Aunt Wissy” was very special to all of us growing up. All of us Richmond’s and Ashley’s had so many amazing childhood memories playing for hours ,skiing, riding bikes, playing in the Hills, going to school together and just growing up together. She had such a special way about her. Everyone loved her. She enjoyed her yard and flowers, horses and animals and just the open Country that she loves so much! Memories of her are many and wonderful. She will never be forgotten. Love to all of you at this time of loss and always. She’s with the other angels we have lost looking down on all of us. We will be looking up to you with love❤
Rob Alessio says
Louise was a beautiful, sweet and loving lady. I only knew her for a short time, but she treated me like a son. God Bless you Mom, I know Heaven is now much more enriched with your presence. I love you. Rob Alessio
Shanna Sunderlin says
Although it has been many years since I have been able to see much of the family, I still have many great memories of us and my cousins of all ages. Miss those times. Aunt Lou was such a strong person and hard worker. My condolences to my cousins, great aunts, great uncle and Ron. 💕
Randall Richmond says
Although it has been many years since I last seen Aunt Louise, she will be remembered by all of her family in Colorado. From skiing in Aspen as kids in the 60’s to visiting the Ashleys in Montana in the mid-90’s, I have many memories of all of them. It was mentioned that she would cook delicious meals for her family, and I can attest to that! When My wife and I visited the ranch outside Sheridan in 1996, we were treated to an awesome roast beef dinner with all the fixins. Since it was mid-March, we were also treated to a Montana blizzard! Goodbye, Aunt Louise, may God enjoy you’re company. For the Ashley “kids” may God bless all of you and your children and grandchildren.
John&Doris Stipech says
Sorry for loss. She was a fine lady and a great horsewoman..she will be missed by all.
Chris Richmond Gallegos and family says
Aunt Louise was one of my very favorite people. She was such a talented person. She could grow anything. Wonderful vegetables and beautiful flowers. Every where she lived she had a garden. She was also wonderful cook. The best bread baker in the family. But her true love was horses. She was blessed to have had them in her life from a very young age. I admired her for her strength and her work ethic. All of us who came after her learned from her example. The world is a colder place with out her but now we have her guiding light in heaven above. My love to all of the Ashley family and to her loving husband Ron Horn. May God bless her and keep her.
Dorothy Scott says
So sorry for family loss Prayers be with you all!
Roban and Martin Bunting says
Prayers for your family during this sad time.We lost Martin s father in June. This is a tough first Christmas for us with all of our parents gone now. It was fun following Louise pictures on facebook! She will be missed. What an amazing horsewoman!
Linda Sunderlin says
Thoughts and prayers to the family and Ron she loved so dearly. We had so many wonderful family times over the years. Lou gave me my start with sheep with 3 ewe lambs she gave the kids for 4-H projects that I will always be grateful for. She was a tremendous horsewoman and loved all the livestock and pets on the ranch. She was a great skier also in her younger years. She just loved racing down the ski slopes when we lived near Aspen. We were out of touch the last few years but she was always in my thoughts especially during the holidays. Ganny will welcome her with open arms. Heaven will have another bright star. Love to the family.
Lisa Morrison says
I am so thankful I have always lived near my Aunt Lou and her family. When we first moved to the Ruby Valley Ganny lived with her, then later when I was older Ganny lived with us and Jason and I would ride with her up to Aunt Lou’s house in the white Ford. I loved going to Aunt Lou’s house : first off, when I was little was the potential that Leslie would be home and she would let me look through all her great “stuff”, I remember the smell of Zest soap, there was always milk in various stages of refinement until finally captured and cooled in large glass jars, batches of different colored eggs , toast with honey and when I was older the best cup of coffee, homemade bread, kittens, lambs and horses, horses, horses! Aunt Lou probably had tons to do, but I remember rides on Sunny and Goldie and stories about, and “colts out of” Angel and Rosie and Zip, and Page and Vellho, and on and on. She never tired of me and in the mean time with her help, I grew up with endless equine opportunities. Our Last good horse conversation was at the Hospital in Miles. I brought in my IPad and we looked over branding photos of Brent and Mat riding their good colts out of “Gunner”. Brent held her hand and bragged up “the roan” and “Bammers”. She lit all up! You didn’t need to elaborate as to who “the roan” was or what mare his mother was out of, it was all still there, morphine drip or not! Well I thank the Lord for her and for the example of selflessness she set out in front of me and others. I got to have her in my life longer than I deserve but not near as long as I had assumed I would. I have to say I am caught off guard by this whole event even though it went down slowly . It is a great comfort to know that Aunt Lou had a true, living relationship with Jesus. I know where she is. I’ll see her again.
Darell Sunderlin says
So sorry to hear about Lou , my sincere condolences To Ron , Leslie and the boys . We had some good times with Lou up at Aspen & Sheridan with the family .She will be greatly missed but not forgotten .