Myrtle Peterson Forney

After a long, full life, Myrtle Peterson Forney, 95, of Cheyenne, died on Friday, November 29, at the Davis Hospice Center.

Born on July 6, 1924, near Elgin, NE, daughter of the late Milton and Anna Ruth (Clark) Mason, she lived in the country and attended a one room country school; her family moved to Texas in the 1930’s, and she graduated from high school in Waco, TX. When she was 18, a job as a telegrapher drew her to Sherman, WY, the highest point on the UP Railroad, and it was later in Laramie that she married the love of her life, George Peterson. Her happy life as a mother of four changed when George died unexpectedly in 1965. Myrtle, busy as a stay at home mom of four children, found herself back at work, first in the UW registrar’s office and later again as a telegraph operator. In 1974 she married another railroader, Ken Forney. Myrtle returned to work at UW as an administrative secretary in athletics. Ken passed away in 1988. She remained in Laramie until 2004 then moved to Cheyenne to be closer to her daughter, Sally. After a few years of apartment living, she happily moved into Pointe Frontier and remained in independent living until her death.

Myrtle enjoyed dances at the Elk’s Club and the VFW, cooking, baking, exercising, visiting her eight siblings, PEO and Presbyterian women’s activities, and attending UW football and basketball games. With her quick wit, amazing dancing skills and appreciation for a grand wardrobe, she turned many a head and always had a partner to enjoy life with. Most of all, she loved her adult children and growing number of grandchildren. Myrtle will be missed by all, but she had a strong faith and is surely reunited with many loved ones already in heaven.

Myrtle is survived by three children, Janet (Duane) Swinton, Sally (Howard) Meeker and Michael (Robin Durbin) Peterson; three siblings, Warren Mason, Gwen Mason and John Mason; 10 grandchildren, Jennifer, Nathan, Zachary, Adrianna, Molly, Michael-John, Laura, Brent, Krissy and Becky; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter.  She was also preceded in death by son, James Peterson.

Myrtle’s cremated remains were buried in a private family ceremony at Greenhill Cemetery in Laramie, Wyoming next to George Peterson, her first husband and father of her children.  Memorial funds may be donated to Presbyterian Women, First Presbyterian Church, 220 West 22nd Street, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001.