Max A. Arrowsmith

Max Anthony Arrowsmith passed away on February 9, 2026, at the age of 68 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He battled cancer and took chemo infusions for over two years. He died in the hospital due to renal failure and advanced cancer.

He was born on July 25, 1957, in Denver, Colorado, where he grew up one block from Speer Blvd. and Colfax. He attended St. Joseph’s school. He and his dad restored a 1956 Chevrolet, and he drag raced at Bandimere Speedway (also known as Thunder Mountain) in Morrison, Colorado. He mounted his trophies in the trunk of his car. In one of his famous cocky attitudes, he told a pro drag racer that he could beat him. If I remember right, the drag racer gave Max a bit of a start, miscalculated, and realized he was going to have to romp on it to beat Max, and ended up taking out his clutch. Max did not win, but he also didn’t take out his clutch!

Max met the love of his life, ShelLu, in 1980. They were married May 2, 1981. They lived in Federal Heights, Colorado. He enjoyed sharing his mechanical knowledge and supporting ShelLu’s various racing competitions through the years. They moved to Goodland, Kansas, in 1990 where Max worked as a diesel mechanic for 6 years and was on the pit crew for a local derby and race-track driver.

The couple spent 25 years in Torrington, Wyoming, living in the country with horses, dogs, cats, and goats. Max worked on cars, pickups, semi-trucks, tractors, and various farm equipment and trailers for several shops. He ran his own business for a short while before switching gears and commuting to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where he held several positions at Walmart. He eventually transferred to the newly built Walmart in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 2015. He worked in several positions, his last one on the Mod Crew. He would joke, saying, “You can blame me for the product not being in the same place it was the month before, because I was the one who moved it.” He received two awards at Walmart, plus his 15-year milestone pin and certificate in April of 2025.

Max was known for his mechanical expertise, wit, sarcasm, loyalty, and persistence. He was a loving husband and a beloved brother, and uncle.

Max is survived by his sister, Susan Spomer; three nieces, Julie Spomer, Dixie Blanckaert, and Denise Arellano; three nephews, Robert Craig, Michael Craig, and Eric Gutierrez; and grandniece Eryn Blankaert.

Max was preceded in death by his parents, Max Chapis and GeorgeAnn Arrowsmith; his sister, Diane Gutierrez; and nephew, Richard Spomer.

A celebration of life will be held on May 2 at the First Presbyterian Church, 220 W. 22nd St., Cheyenne, WY, in the Fellowship Hall, at 1:15. It is a special date as it would have marked the couple’s 45th anniversary.

Max will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered as reflected by these comments from his family. (Full tributes will be available at the celebration.) “All my childhood memories of Max center around playful orneriness!!!...[in later years] I would see that playful twinkle and found myself waiting with wonder to see what would be coming next.” Susan. “…my all-time favorite memory is knowing he was always a safe space for me to fall and tell my troubles to when no one else would understand.” Dixie. “Uncle Max was truly one of a kind. He was a man full of character, humor, and a presence that left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him…[He] had a great sense of humor and a sharp, lovable sarcasm, but when he was serious, he meant it. He was genuine, hardworking, and deeply caring.” Denise. “…He always had a look on his face like he had another joke or snarky comment lined up with his little half smile and sideways glance.” Eryn.