Lynn Ragna Moyer Orester (October 10, 1944 – September 11, 2020)
Lynn Ragna Moyer Orester passed away on Friday, September 11th, 2020 at her home in Rock Springs.
Lynn was born on October 10, 1944 in Pendleton, Oregon, to John and Hazel Williamson Moyer. She was the youngest of three children, although her brother Michael died in childhood.
Her family toured the western United States after her father worked at JA Tertelling & Sons Construction. A special job brought the family and their mobile home to Hanna, where John Moyer was foreman of a coal mine and later superintendent of my mine.
Advertising – The story continues below …
They lived there for almost four years before moving to Casper. A job in Washington made her father realize how much he loved Wyoming and wanted his own business – even “just” a peanut stand.
In 1954, mom’s parents built and opened Moyer’s service in the Red Desert. Mama became a true “desert girl”, arrowhead hunting around her property and the other side of the railroad tracks behind the station. She attended school in Wamsutter (two rooms at the time) before entering Rawlins high school.
She graduated from Rawlins High School in 1962 before moving to Rock Springs and attending Western Wyoming Community College, where she studied cribbage. She graduated as an associate in 1964 and made her way to Laramie.
In 1966 she moved to Portland, Oregon, and gave birth to a daughter who she put up for adoption. Kara found her years later and they developed a close friendship that healed a hole in Lynn’s heart for the child she always loved.
In 1970, Lynn met George Orester at the University of Wyoming. They married in January 1971 and later divorced. They had a daughter, Anne-Marie, in 1973. They lived in Rock Springs and Red Desert for many years and, among other things, ran their parents’ gas station.
George returned to Wyoming in 2017 when Lynn was diagnosed with lung cancer so he could take care of her while she needed him. Unfortunately, he went over to exactly what Lynn was able to beat in February 2020. While they divorced and were bitter for several years, they managed to remain friends and successful co-parents with their daughter.
Lynn worked in various jobs in Rock Springs and retired from the Rock Springs Police Department, where she retired as Records Supervisor in 2013. There are still many officials who remember the lady with the small mouth and the attention to detail.
Her years in the police force were some of her favorites, and she missed officers and colleagues when she left.
Lynn also worked at JC Pennys, helping move the store from downtown to the White Mountain Mall. Associates, First Security Bank, and of course her family’s business in Red Desert.
Lynn is survived by her daughters Anne-Marie Foster and husband Robert of Rock Springs and Kara Bostad of Vancouver, Washington (and Kara’s amazing mother Marge), her brother John Moyer and wife Ruth, nephews John Moyer and wife Michelle and Brian Moyer and Mrs. Tracy from across California and Michael Moyer from Cheyenne. She is also supported by special friends Roselin Mogensen from Laramie, Karen Flaim from Rock Springs, JoLynn Berkle from Rock Springs, Brandy & Bill Foley and “The Boys” and Deanne Hadden from Searcy, AR, Cassandra Bayles from Salt Lake City, UT, survived and numerous urn-nephews, great-great-great-nieces and nephews as well as their companion lady and granddaughters of the heart, Jenny Hungerford & Chele Schamber.
Lynn was preceded in death by her parents John & Hazel Moyer, little brother Michael, ex-husband George Orester, beloved pets, friends and family.
Instead of flowers, the family respectfully suggests donating to the charity of your choice in their honor.
After the cremation, a celebration of life will be performed on May 14, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in the Rest Haven Memorial Gardens to the north on Yellowstone Road in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Condolences can be left at www.vasefuneralhomes.com.