Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Peggy Eileen Wessel, 82, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus January 25th,2021 at Worland Healthcare & Rehab Center after a long and courageous battle with breast and ovarian cancer. Peggy was born August 14th, 1938 at the Greybull hospital to Ralph Elmer and Sylvia May Garbutt Reed. She joined her sister Alice and brother Donald. Later, sisters Linda and Nancy added to the family. They farmed in northern WY. She worked hard in the fields. A favorite pet was her desensitized skunk. After an accidental escape, a skunk was seen crossing the field. Her father encouraged her to go catch it... she found out it was not her skunk! Peggy attended schools in Greybull, Manderson, Casper, Cody and graduating from Worland in 1956.

She talked often about working as a carhop at the Worland A&W drive-in on their opening night. They were extremely busy and cars were parked every which way. She later took a position with Farmer's State Bank. She married Richard Gray in 1960. To this union 2 daughters were born, Jo Ellen and Diana. Richard passed in 1976.

Peggy worked at the Chamber of Commerce in Worland. She was chosen for the Big Horn Mountain Women of the Year pack trip. She enjoyed the Tennessee Walker horses describing them as if "riding in a rocking chair". They visited many of the beautiful lakes as they camped through the week.

She later purchased McGarvin's Jewelry and began a career in retail, later changing the name to Country Living & Gifts. In 1985 Peggy and Clint Wessel married and worked together in the store for many years. They were blessed to celebrate 35 years of marriage this past August. In December they were able to celebrate Clint's birthday together as well as a movie date while both living in the Nursing Home prior to Clint's passing Dec 17th 2020.

Peggy enjoyed tending to her beautiful flower beds, cooking "you should have some", and decorating. She loved Word Chums and any games with family, especially a very competitive pinochle game. Her doggies were special to her providing much joy and companionship. Peggy cherished her cousin outings, family reunions and time with her sister Alice. She followed politics closely, on the Trump Train, and also rooted for her New York Yankees. She called Altuve a "Mad Little Bull" when he beat up on her Yankees.

She loved spending time in the mountains and most of all cherished time spent with family. She was very proud of her grandchildren and traveled with Jim and Jo to most of their events. She was so full of joy and enthusiasm and had a very robust and contagious laugh. She will be dearly missed.

Peggy was a member of Zion Evangelical Church, Today's Homemaker's and Gorgeous Gals.

She is proceeded in death by husbands Richard and Clint, parents Ralph and Sylvia, sister Nancy, infant sister Dolly, brother-in-law Con Lass and step daughter Carolyn Jenkins.

She is survived by daughters Jo Ellen (Jim) Henning of Gillette, WY, Diana (Corey) Swenson of Broadus, MT, sister Alice Lass, grandchildren Eric, Julia and Andrea Swenson, step grandchildren Erica and Monty (Melissa) Jenkins as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Worland Healthcare & Rehab Center for the tender care they provided and Pastor Dobson for his compassion and words of encouragement.

Should friends desire, memorials can be made to Zion Evangelical Church, New Hope Animal Shelter in Worland or any charity of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Veile Mortuary.

~a quote from Peggy's year book... "Pretty & Clever, Smiling Too, Always Cheerful, Never Blue".