Charlotte Frances Asay

Obituary

Charlotte Frances Greene Asay

March 20, 1932 - August 20, 2013

Charlotte Frances Greene Asay passed away Tuesday, August 20, in Cody, Wyoming, of complications resulting from a fractured hip. Charlotte was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 20, 1932. Her father was employed by the government as a civil engineer, so she spent much of her childhood in the Washington, D.C. area. An early memory of Charlotte's was attending the Easter Egg Roll at the Roosevelt White House. Charlotte's father, Stanley Greene, grew up in Nebraska. Her mother, Camille Pachner, came to the United States from the Czech Republic when she was 8 years old and settled, with her family, in Chicago. She had one sister, Geraldine, who was seven years younger than Charlotte. When Charlotte was in the 5th grade, the family moved to Shawnee Mission, Kansas. They lived there until her senior year when they moved to Denver.

As a young girl, Charlotte enjoyed playing the piano. In her junior year in high school, she had a job playing piano for dance classes. She loved to ski and took the ski train regularly from Denver to Winter Park Resort. She also loved dancing and listening to the big bands that came to town.

Upon graduation from East High School in Denver, Charlotte spent one year attending the University of Denver where she majored in Geology. From there, she transferred to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, changed her major to English and was active in many clubs and organizations. As a pretty, young coed at CSU, she met David Asay. He was a junior when they had their first date, a blind date to a basketball game. They were married in December of 1952 and graduated with their bachelor's degrees together the following year. Dave went on to receive his degree in Veterinary Science. Two daughters were born to the couple while they lived in Fort Collins, and it was there that Charlotte joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

After graduation the couple moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where Dave worked as a veterinarian but the couple was anxious to return to Wyoming to be closer to the family ranch in Meeteetse. In 1956, they moved to Worland where three more children were born.

Throughout the years, Charlotte was involved with AAUW, Republican Women, Girl Scouts, 4H, and her Church youth and women's organizations serving as President of the Lovell Stake Relief Society. Since her husband served two terms in the state legislature, she frequently spent time with him in Cheyenne, an experience she really enjoyed.

In 1987, Dave and Charlotte were called by their church to serve as mission presidents in the Caracas, Venezuela mission for 3 years, They were responsible for the teaching, training and general welfare of over 200 missionaries in the area of Caracas, as well as the Dutch islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire. The missionaries and church members in Venezuela along with visiting Church authorities were grateful recipients of her hard work and hospitiality.

Charlotte always had a wide array of interests and an appetite for learning and education. She was an excellent musician with a special gift for the piano. She read a variety of books and was always learning and interested in the world around her, particularly in the fine arts. She was a wonderful cook, decorator, seamstress and gardener and had a tender heart for those in need. She was particularly interested in genealogy and spent many hours tracing her family history. She enjoyed traveling and was thrilled to be able to visit her mother's childhood home in the Czech Republic. She also travelled to Spain, Egypt, the Caribbean and toured much of the United States and South America. For many years, Charlotte, served as copilot and navigator in her husband's small plane as they flew on veterinary visits in Wyoming and travels around the country. Although she was raised as a city girl, she was a good sport in her initiation into Western life and pitched in wherever she was needed in the veterinary business and around the farm.

Charlotte's special gift, however, was as a mother and grandmother, encouraging and supporting her children in any and all endeavors. She was greeted on the other side by her parents, Stanley and Camille Greene and by her son, Scott (LeAnn Sanderson) who died in July, 2007. She is survived by her husband, David Asay of Worland and children, Cindy (David Liggett) of Littleton, Colorado, Kathy (James W. Johns) of Sweet, Idaho, Susan (James Farr) of Bountiful, Utah and Mark (Kristin Corry) of Mapleton, Utah and by her sister, Geraldine Sethness of Rockville, Maryland as well as many nieces and nephews and other extended family members. She was blessed with 25 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren and was devoted to her family, who adored her. Charlotte was an inspiration to those who knew and loved her, handling difficult circumstances with uncommon grace. She will be greatly missed.

A viewing will be held Friday, August 23, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Bryant Funeral Home at 1320 Big Horn Avenue in Worland. On Saturday, August 24th , at the LDS Stake Center, 500 North Sagebrush Drive in Worland, a viewing will be held from 2 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. followed by the funeral at 3 p.m. Burial will follow at Riverview Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Washakie County Museum or donor's choice in care of Bryant Funeral Home PO Box 524 Worland, WY 82401. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com