Nola Ptasynski

Nola Grace Ptasynski, 89, passed away on Thursday night, August 29, at the Wyoming Medical Center with Harry, her husband of almost 62 years at her side, and after a brief illness following emergency surgery. Cremation has taken place and, as per her request, no services will be conducted. Nola was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on April 5, 1924 and adopted by Bert and Nell Whitestine. She attended schools in Tulsa and graduated from Central High School. She attended Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women's University) and Tulsa University where she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority and gaining a BA degree in Journalism. She worked for various Tulsa oil companies, editing their company publications. Her last position was as executive secretary to the president of Service Pipeline Company. She married Harry Ptasynski on September 15, 1951 in Tulsa and moved to Wichita, Kansas, where her husband was employed as a geologist with The Pure Oil Company. The couple was soon transferred to Amarillo, Texas and in 1955, to Casper, Wyoming. In Casper, Nola became active with the Casper Artists Guild, writing the organization's notices reviews, etc. She also became active in the Nicolaysen Art Museum and served on the Foundation Board. She was an accomplished artist on her own and, although not taking herself seriously-often failing to sign the finished product (oils, water colors, pencil), her work won several local and regional awards. She became an avid golfer at the Casper Country Club and enjoyed playing in the women's groups. She took up skiing so she could introduce the sport to her children at an appropriate, early age. In later years, she enjoyed tennis at an advanced beginner level. Gardening and yard work were favorite pastimes and her yard on Garden Creek gave ample opportunity to pursue this interest. Her main love, however, were her pets-anything from stray, needy (and pregnant) cats, "Humane Society Reject Mutts", as she called them to Blue Ribbon Pedigree Shetland Sheepdogs. And how they loved her in return! She is survived by her husband, Harry ("Taz"), a son, Ross F. "Fritz" of Torrance, California and daughter Lisa Joy in Washington State. Nola was a member of St. Stephens Episcopal Church. Any memorials to Nola made to the Casper Humane Society, Central Wyoming Rescue Mission or to the donor's choice would be greatly appreciated.