Charlotte Asay

Last week my Grandma Asay passed away.  It was something I had anticipated happening while we were away in Pittsburgh, but not so soon.

I struggled with the decision not to go to my Grandma's funeral.  I wanted to be there so badly to show my love for her and Grandpa and to see all the family and friends who I hadn't seen in years.  There were many tears and conversations about money, regret, plane schedules, children and feasibility.

At one point I decided I just needed to pray.  Almost instantly I was over come with peace and love and reassurance that my physical presence was not needed.  I than began to think about what Grandma would have wanted, and lessons I should have learned from her and I came up with this list............

Grandma would have wanted me to have Joy, feel Peace and show Love.
To study the gospel and share it, to be a missionary and a good example.  She would have wanted me to not just take care of my family, but to show them how wonderful and important they are.

She taught me patience and long suffering. To get involved, seize the day and listen.
She taught me to smile, care, enjoy, read and share.  To hug like you mean it and have desert, twice.  She taught me to feast on the word of God, to learn about others. Ask, care, help and give.  To take pride in a well kept home and appearance.  That not even the least (in size, heart, or courage) should be overlooked, or forgotten. And even the greatest don't necessarily deserve our respect.

If it were me, I would be glad to leave my imperfect body behind after a full life.  I would have no fear for what was to come, only sorrow for those I left behind.  It would pain me to see their suffering and sadness at my departure and I would wish they could see my joy and happiness to be reunited with those I loved and missed that had passed before me.  I think instead of tears I would want smiles and understanding so I could move on with out guilt and not feel the need to cling to what could no longer be, only look forward with excitement to being reunited once again.

Obituary
Charlotte Asay

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.