Henry Forest Worthington

Henry Forest "Butch" Worthington died Good Friday, March 25, 2016 at Pioneer Manor Nursing Home in Gillette, Wyoming. A celebration of life with military honors will be held in Artesia, New Mexico later this summer for Mr. Worthington and his wife, Margaret, who preceded him in death.Mr. Worthington was conceived in a sheep wagon in Campbell County, Wyoming to Henry Forest Worthington and Maxie Mae Lawson Worthington who were homesteaders proving up on land west of Reno Junction. His father joined the Powder River Cavalry in June, 1918 to serve his country in WWI and died in France, August of that year. Maxie went back to her family in the Texas Panhandle to give birth. Henry was born October 25, 1918 in Miami, Texas. He grew up in Clovis, New Mexico. His mother never remarried, raising him alone through the Great Depression. He graduated from Clovis High School in 1937 and began attending the University of New Mexico majoring in business. Though he finished his degree in June of 1942, he didn't attend his UNM graduation ceremony opting instead to enlist in the US Army. A highlight of his life was his UNM class being honored at graduation 50 years later. They were dressed in gold caps and gowns and seated in the front row of "The Pit". It was noted that many of them had not attended the graduation ceremony in '42 due to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and WWII. Mr. Worthington was a sergeant in the Signal Corp, Third United States Army Headquarters under General George S. Patton Jr. He did basic training in Camp Crowder, Missouri and then was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas before shipping out on the Ile de France to Kuntsford, England. He was responsible for rations and quarters, but spent most of his time trouble shooting for the Signal Depot Companies and with the Fourth Armored and Fifth Infantry Divisions. He stayed with the 3rd Army Headquarters across Europe until after VE Day and the end of WWII.He met Margaret Elizabeth Compary in Albuquerque while going to school. They married May 13, 1942 and spent the next 67 years together. Mr. Worthington went into accounting, briefly with Malco Refineries, for 23 years with Continental Oil until it was sold and then for 16 years with Navajo Refining Co., until he retired as payroll supervisor for five companies.Mr. Worthington was an Eagle Scout and continued his love of scouting as scoutmaster and on troop committees off and on for 25 years. He coached Little League Baseball and was a charter member of the Artesia Veterans of Foreign Wars Post serving as post commander for three years. He also joined the Wyoming VFW after moving to that state following the death of his wife. He was an avid Lobo alumni serving as president of the Carlsbad/Artesia alumni chapter and was a member of the UNM Centennial Planning Committee. He was awarded the UNM outstanding alumni Zia Award in 1996. Mr. Worthington was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Artesia. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, and traveling the world with his wife. He is survived by his son, Bob Worthington (Tammy) of Artesia, NM, daughter, DeeBee Worthington of Gillette, WY, his granddaughters, Marli Trusty (Kane) of Bozeman, MT, Paula Harshbarger (Clark) of Longmont, CO, Robin DeHoyas (Scott) of Plano, TX and five great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife and parents. Memorials may be made to benefit the Pioneer Manor Nursing Home activities program or SPE Crawfish Boil which donates all proceeds to catastrophic medical needs for Powder River Basin residents. Memorials and condolences may be sent to the family in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be sent via our website: www.gillettememorialchapel.com Funeral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716