We said good-bye today to Fran Galey.She died far too young – only 46 years old. She passed away last Tuesday (4/28/09) in Riverton, Wyoming, after a lengthy battle with a brain tumor. She was the wife of Jay Galey, and a daughter-in-law to Gary and Zoleta Galey of Crawford.
Fran was born in Fort Collins, Colorado, to Larry and Patricia Dowse. They moved to Riverton, where Fran graduated from high school in 1980. She earned degrees in science and education at Chadron State College, where she met Jay. They married in Crawford, Nebraska in June 1984. They had three children: Jaycy, Kelsey, and Thomas “T.J.”
Fran had a remarkable career in the classroom, teaching science for six years in Spalding, Nebraska, before taking a teaching job in Ord, Nebraska, where she remained for 13 years. The family moved to Riverton in 2005, where she taught middle school science. Fran was a real supporter of youth baseball and served on the boards of Little League and Babe Ruth baseball.
Most of our relationship with Fran was during Galey family gatherings in Crawford at Gary and Zoleta's home. She was a bright and talented young lady whose commitment to education was strong, and she delighted in the accomplishments of her children.
A favorite teacher for many, it was no surprise that St. Margaret’s Parish Hall in Riverton was filled this morning (5/2/09) with people who’d come to pay their respects to Fran and offer their condolences and support to Jay, Jaycy, Kelsey, T.J., and the Dowse and Galey families. It was a beautiful day for the interment at Mountain View Cemetery in Riverton, and it was a touching ceremony.
Here is text of Fran’s obituary as it appeared in the Thursday, April 30, 2009 edition of The Ranger, Fremont County's daily newspaper.
