Theodora Byrdeen Worley

Theodora Byrdeen Worley, 77, longtime Moses Lake resident, passed away on July 8, 2008, at Kadlec Hospital in Richland, Wash. following heart surgery on June 25. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 18, at the First Presbyterian Church. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel and Crematory. Please sign the guest book or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com.

Byrdeen was born on July 2, 1931, on her parents' farm at Potter, Neb. to Emil Theodore and Emily (Hagemeister) Carlson. She attended two country elementary schools, Potter High School, and graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis, Neb. in 1949, and obtained her RN degree in Nursing from St. School of Nursing in Alliance, Neb. She worked in Sidney, Neb. hospitals and a doctor's office, at the student health center at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., and at Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake.

She married Don Worley of Hemingford, Neb. on Feb. 2, 1957, in Lincoln, Neb. They moved to Yakima, in 1959 and to Moses Lake in 1960.

She was actively involved with the Big Bend Community College and served on the foundation board. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was on the committee for the recent building project. She also was a delegate for the Republican Party. She was involved with White Sands, the BLM, and other Agricultural organizations connected to her farming operation following the death of her husband.

She is survived by her son, Scott, of Pasco, and her daughter, Kristine, of Tacoma, her brother, Charles (Carolyn) Carlson of Kimball, Neb., two sisters-in-law, Sue of Washington and Phyllis Worley of Minnesota, two brothers-in-law, Lowell Neilson II of Visalia, Calif. and Harold Cushing of Show Low, Ariz., 19 nieces and nephews, extended family and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don Worley in 1987, her parents, two sisters, Beverly Neilson and Betty Cushing, and one niece.

She loved flying their own plane in past years and thoroughly enjoyed the wild birds that visited her property daily and their activity on the island in Moses Lake. She did not hesitate to contact the City Council, City Attorney, Postal Department, Airport Authority, Water Authority or the BLM when there were issues she felt weren't being addressed.

She cared about her family, her church, the college, her city, her farms, her friends, cancer research, and life in general. She will be sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Don Worley Scholarship Fund (BBCC), 7502 Chanute Street Moses Lake, WA 98837, or to The Moses Lake Cancer Foundation P.O. Box 1337 Moses Lake, WA 98837.