Dorothy Gish

Dorothy Louise Gish, longtime resident of Cheyenne passed away peacefully at the age of 92 on January 28, 2012 at Life Care Center of Cheyenne. Dorothy was born on January 17, 1920, to Fred and Nellie Johnson in a farmhouse near their original homestead southeast of Briggsdale, Colorado. Dorothy's maternal grandparents, John Williams and Marcia Palmer Williams were part of the original Greeley Union Colony advancing homesteading and irrigation. Dorothy attended East Fosston School from first through eighth grade before entering high school in Briggsdale, graduating in 1937 as Class Salutatorian. Dorothy attended college at Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, Colorado for two years. In 1940 Dorothy met and married Wilbur R. Gish, formerly from eastern Kansas near Lawrence. They were married at her father's ranch near Briggsdale and kept a residence in Greeley during World War II. After Wilbur returned from the Pacific, the family moved back to Briggsdale, then onto Mead, Colorado. In December, 1949, the Gishes with their four children moved to Cheyenne. Dorothy worked at J.C. Penney's two downtown store locations from 1950 through 1970. For the next fifteen years, she worked as a receptionist for Dr. Dan Allegretti and part-time during evenings at Hertz Rent-a-Car at the municipal airport before retiring in 1985. Immediately thereafter, Dorothy spent several years exploring the northeast part of the U.S. while living in North Tarrytown, New York. After returning to Cheyenne in 1988, Dorothy returned to the workplace at Green Thumb, Wyoming State CPA's and LIEAP. She was a volunteer at the VA Hospital, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center and American Legion Post #6. Dorothy was a longtime avid bowler participating in local leagues and regional and national tournaments well into her eighties. She supported the University of Wyoming athletic teams and loved following the Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos. She especially loved the outdoors, gardening in her yard, planting flowers, raking leaves and watering her lawn. She was a proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Meadowbrooke Baptist Church. She enjoyed her extended church and Legion families. Dorothy was preceded in death by a daughter, Karen Louise Gish, both parents and both sisters, Frances Kirk and Mary Payne-Haupt, a brother, Homer Johnson and a very special friend and companion, William (Bill) Morton. She is survived by her three sons and their families, Robert (Fred) and Mary Gish of Cheyenne, Ronald and Marilynn Gish of San Marcos, Texas and Richard and Barbara Gish of Denver, Colorado; eight grandchildren, Karen Holtmeier of Loveland, Ohio, Robert Gish, Jr. of Fort Collins, Colorado, Jeffrey Gish of California, Laurie Soliday of Basalt, Colorado, Jodi Hopkins of Hahira, Georgia, Vonda Willis of Ossining, New York, Ryan Gish of Chicago, Illinois, and Cory Gish of Seattle, Washington; fifteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; nieces Marilyn Mimh of Concordia, Kansas and Marjorie Wooster of Thermopolis, Wyoming; and nephews Donald Johnson of Keenesburg, Colorado, Bob Johnson of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Darrell Johnson of Greeley, Colorado. Dorothy also leaves behind a loving, extended Kansas family. A memorial service will be conducted on Thursday, February 2, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at the Schrader Chapel with Minister Mark D. Kraft officiating. A reception will immediately follow at the Schrader Reception Facility. Cremation is under the direction of Schrader Funeral Home and a private family interment is planned. The family asks that in lieu of flowers a donation of choice be made in Dorothy's honor.

Service

Thursday, February 2, 2012 11:00am

Schrader Chapel

2323 Carey Avenue

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Reception

Schrader Reception Facility

2323 Carey Avenue

CHEYENNE, WY 82001