Myra Williams

Myra was born February 29, 1924 to Ralph and Claudia McGee, at home on their farm in Clay County, Missouri (near Kansas City)

She was preceded in death by her husband, her brother and sister, 3 daughters and 3 grandchildren

She was a leap year baby, and if her birthday wasn’t on leap year, she would always say she didn’t have a birthday. But it was celebrated anyway, and she loved the presents and having family with her.   At her 96th Leap Year birthday party in 2020, she said she was only 28.  Forever young at heart.

Myra’s parents ran the farm, which included the largest tobacco barn in the area.  She was the youngest of 3, her brother Bill was 2 years older, and sister Mildred 8 years older.  All were born on the farm.

Her Grandpa McGee lived in nearby Holt, MO and her dad would send her there once a week on their plow horse to get the newspaper, because the horse knew the way there and back.

Life on the farm wasn’t easy, but they made the best of it and her best memories were always from her life on the farm.  Her brother Bill made each of them stilts, rubber band cars and most of their toys.  She remembered getting a doll and crib that was special to her and when the weather was good, she would set up her doll and crib on the small side porch.

She also loved the barn where she could be with the cats and new kittens.  She said as a child she always wondered how the kittens got down from the hayloft.

She went to elementary school in a one room schoolhouse that included all grades.

They were the first to get electricity.  During the depression the farm was lost and the family moved to Denver where close family lived.  Myra was 14 and attended Skinner Jr High and North High school.  She really missed life on the farm and the move was very hard for her.

Myra married Frank Peterson in 1941.  He joined the Air Force at the beginning of WWII and became a pilot.  She traveled with him until he was sent to Italy around 1943.  She moved in with her parents and had her daughter Cindy in May of 1944.  Frank died one month after she was born, when his plane was shot down on his last mission. He never held his daughter, but he did see pictures of her.

In 1946 Myra married Fred Smith.  Fred had a daughter, Ginny, and Myra became a mother of two.  In 1947, Myra and Fred had a son Mark, and she was now a mother of three.  They divorced after 13 years together.

Myra reconnected with friends she knew as a teen, brothers Bud and Louie Williams, and as fate would have it, Bud was an old friend of Frank’s before he joined the Air Force.  In 1961 Myra married Louie, a widower with 4 daughters, Verna, Rene, Marilynn and Cheri, and overnight she became a mother of 7! (ages 13 to 23)

They bought a home on 3 acres near Morrison, where they started a “mini” farm.  Louie gradually built his herd of registered shorthorns, and as the size grew, they had to rent additional pasture.  They always had a horse or two, and continued to raise chickens, hogs and beef on their 3 acres for their own consumption.  They also grew a huge vegetable garden every year.

Myra was very talented and loved to decorate for every single holiday, which made the holidays very special.  Christmas was especially meaningful, and she filled her home with beautiful decorations, great food and their annual Christmas Eve tradition of having the entire family together.  Other holidays celebrated each year included St. Patrick’s Day, with green beer of course, 4th of July fireworks and bonfires on Halloween.  And wonderful dinners on Thanksgiving.  Louie and Myra were both amazing cooks and generously fed a lot of people over the years.

Their family grew to 22 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchilden.

When Louie retired in 1982, they bought 80 acres in Arkansas where son Mark and his family lived.  They built their dream home and Myra had her life on the farm once again.  They had horses, cows, chickens, dogs and beautiful game birds (quail, pheasants and a variety of exotic ducks).  Louie passed in 1999 and although the cows and game birds had to go, Myra spent 8 more years in her home and continued to care for her chickens and dogs.  But the farm was remote and at 83, although still in good health, she made the decision in 2007 to return to Denver and move in with her daughter Cindy.  They spent 15 years together, and as Myra’s health declined, Cindy became her full-time caregiver.  Myra was lovingly cared for, surrounded by love.  And Cindy decorates her home on every holiday, just like her mom.

Myra peacefully passed away at home, with Cindy by her side on New Year’s Day 2023.  She is loved and will be deeply missed by her entire family.

A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 beginning at 12:00pm until 1:00PM, followed by a Funeral Service at 1:00PM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood.  A reception will immediately follow.

She will be laid to rest with her husband Louis at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in Myra's honor to:

Bloom Hospice

10900 West 44th Avenue, #102

Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033

Please share your memories of Myra and condolences with her family by signing the tribute wall.