Myra Joy McPherson was born January 11, 1937, in Heartwell, Nebraska to Ross and Georgia Bernice McPherson. She was the 5th child of an eventual 7. Her father worked for the Burlington railroad and was transferred to Wiggins, Colorado in 1944. The family lived next to the railroad tracks in a house without indoor plumbing. Myra remembered her mother providing food to rail riding hobos in exchange for household chores. Myra fondly remembered riding trains as a passenger to visit family and enjoyed annual summer visits to Ashland, Nebraska to visit her Grandmother Myra Hendrix.
Unfortunately, Myra’s parents passed away when she was still a teen. Myra then lived with her older sister Holly and her husband Richard Austin in Fort Morgan, Colorado. Clarence Lake, a longtime friend of Myra’s older brother and the family, also stayed with Richard and Holly upon returning from the Korean War. Myra and Clarence fell in love and got married August 3, 1953. They welcomed their first child a daughter Diana on November 13, 1953, and then a son Clarence Jr. on June 2, 1955.
The couple raised their family in Morgan County living in Fort Morgan and the surrounding farmland as Clarence worked various agricultural jobs. After the kids were grown in the mid 1970’s Clarence was transferred to Yuma, Colorado. In 1979 at 42 years of age Myra and Clarence were surprised to learn they were about to have a third child who would be younger than some of their grandchildren. On December 3, 1979, their son Edward Ross was born.
Myra lived the rest of her life in Yuma. In her life Myra worked as a soda jerk, a babysitter, a cook at the Yuma nursing home and a Dietary Supervisor at the Yuma Hospital.
Myra enjoyed sewing, cooking, playing cards and spending time with family and friends. Myra was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and loved studying the bible and sharing its good news with anyone interested in listening.
Myra passed away on November 5, 2022. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, her husband, her siblings Durward McPherson, Carol McPherson, George McPherson, Holly Austin, Dorothy Davis, and Rodger McPherson, and her grandson Robbie Lake.
She is survived by her children Diana Briano of Wray, Clarence Lake and wife Gail of Wray, and Ed Lake and wife Whitney of Yuma. Her grandchildren Bryan Musgrave, Jerry Lake, Kristy and husband Sam Clegg, Curtis Lake, Scott and wife Tricia Musgrave, Angela and husband Levi Witte, 11 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandson.
2022-12-23