MARGARET MARILYN (PARK) WERNER

Margaret Marilyn (Park) Werner, 90, was born Tuesday, December 6, 1932 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Harold Alexander Park and Margaret Helen (Barry) Park.  She passed away Monday, March 13, 2023 at her home in Douglas, Wyoming. 

A short service will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 11:00 am at Gorman Funeral Homes – Converse Chapel with Pastor Echo Klaproth officiating, with a celebration of life planned for this summer on the mountain.  Interment will be in the family plot at the Douglas Park Cemetery.

Her early grade school years were spent in Salt Lake City.  She moved to Wyoming with her family to her mother’s family’s ranch on La Prele Creek when World War II broke out and her father returned to military service.  Marilyn attended Beaver School and completed high school in Douglas.  She married her true love and father of her children, E. Justin Werner, on October 20, 1954 in Casper, Wyoming and raised their children Deborah Marilyn Werner Simon, Edmund Justin Werner Jr., and Jeffrey Dean Werner, on the north ranch on Walker Creek Road.  As a ranch wife she became very active in CowBelles, on both a local and state level, holding many offices.  Continuing her service to the cattle industry, she also served on the National Beef Council/Beef Cook-Off.  The family’s annual Fourth of July picnics at the mountain ranch by Laramie Peak were enjoyed by many.  In 1972 the family bought a home in Douglas so the children could attend town school, and Marilyn started working at the schools as a paraprofessional.  She continued teaching throughout the children’s school years.  Marilyn started Marilyn’s Designs and continued providing interior design, upholstery, and draperies throughout her life.  She served on the Converse County Tourism Board, Douglas City Council, and as Mayor of Douglas.  She was an active member of Zonta, Douglas Sorority, Eastern Star, the Republican party, Wyoming Pioneer Association, Douglas Rotary Club, and the Douglas Episcopal and Congregational Churches.

Marilyn is survived by her daughter Deb Simon, her partner Allen Roush, and her sons Lee (Nikkole) Simon and Matthew (Morgan) Simon; son Ed Werner, his wife Karen, and their daughters Rachel (Brendan Whipple) Werner and Sydney (Brady) Miner; grandson Miles (Alicia) Werner; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Harold, on May 28, 1985; mother, Margaret, on October 20, 1970; her siblings Evelyn Louise (Park) Smith on March 9, 2006, Harold Barry Park on April 3, 2012, and Robert Renfrew “Bob” Park on January 14, 1973; her husband, Justin Werner, on April 27, 1987; and her son, Jeff Werner, on April 29, 2004.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Converse County Ranchers Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the Converse County Bank, P.O. Box 689, Douglas, Wyoming 82633 would be appreciated by the family.

Serving as pallbearers JJ Werner, Brandon Werner, Bob Downs, Lowell Smylie, Brian Plumb, and Andy Moore.

The Gorman Funeral Homes – Converse Chapel of Douglas, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of MARGARET MARILYN (PARK) WERNER, please visit our floral store.