SHERIDAN -- Memorial service for Vesta Thomas Ringley, 89, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 4, 2008, from the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Doug Melius officiating. Following the service, Vesta will be laid to rest next to her husband, Roy, in the Masonic #43 section of Sheridan Municipal Cemetery.

She died Tuesday, April 1, 2008, in Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County.

She was born on June 7, 1918 on the Home Ranch in Sheridan to Richard and Mayme (DeJarnette) Thomas.

Her family moved to Osage and then Colorado Springs, Colo., and returned to Sheridan when she was 6 years old. She attended all school grades in Sheridan at Coffeen, Central and Hill schools and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1937.

After she graduated from high school, she was working at Stevens Fryberger when she met her future husband, Roy Ringley from Phoenix, Ariz. They were married on Nov. 21, 1937.

They lived and worked in many places as he followed work in the trucking industry. She worked for many department stores as a sales person. Her longest tenure was at Ronzone’s Department Store, later bought by Dillard’s, in Las Vegas, where she retired after 19 years' service.

They lived throughout the western United States, including Greeley and Colorado Springs, Colo., Sturgis, S.D., and several cities in California, including San Bernardino, Colton and Fontana. Their travels frequently found them back in Sheridan to work for a time before they followed other opportunities. Their last move was made from Las Vegas, Nev., to Sheridan in 1990, where she lived until her death.

They enjoyed traveling in their camper in the United States and had some memorable trips to Hawaii, Alaska and England. A member of the First Presbyterian Church, she was also a member of the Presbyterian Ladies Circle. She gained immense pleasure from her many close friendships and her family.

Survivors include her son, Tom Ringley of Big Horn; daughters, Nancy Kelly of Reno, Nev., and Susan Farnsworth of Las Vegas, Nev.; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her sister, Florence Petrie and her brothers, Dean and Wendell Thomas.

Memorials may benefit First Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

Casper Star-Tribune - April 3, 2008