Fay Kathleen Matheny, 87, of Colstrip, passed away November 25,2023 in Forsyth. Fay was born on March 27, 1936 at the Forsyth Hospital to Eugene and Rachel Noyes. She is survived by her husband, Roy Matheny, a sister, Ann Grimes of South Carolina, and a brother, John (Coral) Noyes of Whitehall, MT, plus a total of 23 nephews/nieces and grand/great grand nephews and nieces.
Both of Fay’s grandparents (Jen/Helen Hoff and Eugene/Eva Noyes) homesteaded in the Rosebud/Forsyth area.
Fay taught school in California for 5 years, but then, being a Montana girl at heart, she moved to Colstrip in 1970 and taught for 29 more years. She retired in 1999 and was elected to the Colstrip School Board twice. She was very active in the community, including the Women of the Moose and the Red Hat Lunch Ladies.
A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, June 1, 2024 at the Colstrip Moose Lodge at 11:00 AM. Women of the Moose will assist in the ceremony and a luncheon will follow.
Service Schedule
Celebration of Life/Luncheon
11:00 AM
Saturday June 1, 2024
Moose Lodge
Colstrip, Montana 59323
Service Schedule
Celebration of Life/Luncheon
11:00 AM
Saturday June 1, 2024
Moose Lodge
Colstrip, Montana 59323
Share
pat riedel says
Roy, sorry for your loss.
Fay your smiling and laughing face will be missed by many. RIP
Shelly Holum says
To all of Faye’s family & Friends
Sending prayers to a wonderful lady
Shelly Holum
Robyn Alexander says
Mrs. Matheny was my favorite teacher and she was the reason I became a teacher. Prayers for her family.
Darrell L Brabec says
Condolences, prayers for Fay’s family. Fay has impacted so many students throughout her time teaching.
Cindy Lebie says
Roy I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m Ray Bateys daughter. Faye was always so kind to me. I will miss her.
Andy Kukes says
Condolences to Mrs Matheny’s family. She was the most influential teacher and hall monitor I had going through school and a great friend after.
David Grover says
Condolences to Fay’s family and close friends. Fay was an amazing teacher and mentor, she taught me to own my education and to challenge myself daily.
Thank you Fay!
Deb Schonenbach McClaren says
To all of Mrs. Mathenys family, I’m so sorry to hear this. She was the best teacher ever, I’ll never firorget her.
Roxie Wilson says
Condolences to Mrs. Matheny’s family and her dear friend Terry.
Mrs. Matheny was one of my most favorite people I knew. She always had a smile on her face when I saw her and a quiet and commanding presence. She was a great teacher for me in high school and an amazing mentor when I came to work at Colstrip. She continued to encourage me throughout my career as a coach and seeing her at the gate for all home games was something I looked forward to. She is now teaching English in Heaven and all the angels are the lucky ones to have her as their teacher. Rest in Peace to this special lady. Just had a thought: she most likely would be putting red strikes in my writing!
Janice Breyer and Janell Warnack says
The passing of Faye is a loss in this world. She touched so many people through teaching and just being one of the nicest ladies one could ever meet. Sending our sincere condolences to her family and friends, including long-time friend Terry.
Joanne Schrupp says
Roy, family, and Terry M.,
Fay was a treasure for her students and proof of that is how many of them remember her as their favorite teacher and/or counted her as a friend in adulthood. She always greeted me with a smile and was never too busy for a little chat. She will be greatly missed.
Judy Hayworth says
Fay Matheny was a treasure!
Fay, and Mike and I, moved to Colstrip in the Fall of 1970. Mike and Fay were first year teachers for the district, but both had previous teaching experience. I was a stay at home mom. Colstrip was Class C at that time and for several years Fay rode to Miles City to the District Tournament with us in our little Volkswagon! We were all loyal fans for our Colts (and later the Fillies, too!) In a few years, I began teaching again and was a proud member of the Colstrip faculty with Fay.
Fay was an excellent teacher of our children.
In the last 10+ years, I was the lucky recipient of Fay’s blog every morning! The day was not complete if she did not write each day. Occasionally, there was a little computer glitch, but Krista H. would usually fix the computer and get Fay back to blogging again!
When I had a health problem in 2008, Fay came along side of me with encouragement. I called her “one of my angels.”
I send my love and my prayers to Roy, Fay’s family, Terry, and Fay’s many friends and students.
Dori grimes says
Auntie Fay you were the best! I love you and miss you! To all of her students, just know that she talked about you all the time and you were all her kids. That’s what she called you, her kids! She was such a funny lady and a little devilish, lol!💗😭
Maria Kennedy says
To Roy, Their family and friends. Fay was an “older” cousin of mine growing up, as their family came to visit the Kennedy’s in Manhattan. She and Ann were always from bigger places and knew “things”. Through the years Fay and Ann have always remained my family. They never changed in their impact on me. Fay did talk of all her students like they were her kids. She loved seeing them grow and become neat adults. Her picture here is exactly as I remember her when I saw her last after the pandemic. That smile, that twinkle in the eye, that solid quiet demeanor, just Fay. She will always be family. Hope to see her in the beyond some day.
Marsha Small says
My condolences to the family, friends, and the communities of our teacher, Mrs. Matheny. She was truly one of a kind. Throughout my academic career and life journey, I often thought of her, and her strong and coaxing ways. My heart to you, Mrs. Matheny, may your journey to beyond the Milky Way be with the grace you shared with us.
Judy Moore says
Fay, you were that big sister of my friend Ann and I was afraid of you! I now laugh about that. Ann and John will miss you terribly. Can’t remember the last time I saw you but that beautiful picture of you is how I remember you. My condolences to Roy, Ann and John
Gayle Clifford says
Roy, Ann , John and families,
With sincere sympathy for the loss of Fay.
Fay was my mom. (Evelyn Kennedy Brainard)’s cousin.
In recent years, Fay and Ann would travel in the summer stopping in Manhattan to have lunch with my mom, my sisters, my cousin Maria
and myself. Many old memories were shared between my mom and her cousins. It was during these visits that I got to know Fay
better than ever before. She was a delightful person and always had great stories to share.
She will be missed greatly by her family, former students and friends.
Ann (Noyes) Grimes says
This is Ann (Noyes) Grimes. I wrote a note on this site once but I included my email address and I guess they did not like that – so lets try again… I’m Fay’s sister and the family will be having a celebration of Fay’s life in the late spring. Since we don’t have a date as yet, we will send out a notice, but just in case, if you are interested in attending, as summer nears contact Terry in Colstrip or me Or my brother John if you can.
Fay was the best sister ever. Her children – all her high school students – we her kids. She loved hearing about their lives after high school and always called them her kids. She was born in Forsyth Montana and ended up there. She had taught in California – lived in New Mexico – but was a Montana girl at heart. May she Rest In Peace.
Rene Laya says
Roy,
It saddens me to read of the passing of Fay. Even though we only met one time many years ago we have kept in contact every Christmas all these years. You and Fay were good friends to my father Stan for all the years the Colstrip power plants were being built. He spoke very fondly of the weekly get-togethers, known as the “Stanley Parties”. You both will continue to be in my wife’s and my thoughts and prayers.
Rene’ & Tammie Laya
Beverly Nalley says
I know Fay as the beloved sister of my dear friend, Ann. She touched many lives in a most positive way and will be missed by all who knew and loved her. My heart-felt condolences.
Jerry Kinzel says
Mrs. Matheny may you Rest In Peace
Dawn Rowland says
Mrs.Matheny,
You were one one amazing lady! You are much loved by your students & will be missed.
Mike Zook says
All teachers should aspire to be like Fay. She was a treasure; many fond memories of her and the other faculty in Colstrip. May memories of her comfort her family and friends at this time.
Debbie Bixby-Young says
I had Fay as a teacher when she first came to Colstrip Highschool in 1970. I didn’t like English but she was persistent to make me understand it and I’m so glad she did. She came to a reunion in Miles City a few years back and I really enjoyed visiting with her. Fay, you will always be in my thoughts. I will see you again when it is my time to go to the next world.
You will be a welcome addition to heaven.
Debbie Skiles says
Roy, Fay’s family and Terry M.,
Fay was a real treasure and a wonderful friend. I loved visiting with her. She was always smiling , cheerful and encouraging. She was the Queen of the Red Hats Ladies and did an amazing job. Fay was a great influence for many people young and old. She will be missed. Love, Hugs and Prayers!
Bryan Anderson says
Mrs. Matheny, thank you for your dedication to us (your students). My condolences to the family.
Jeremy L Gopher says
Sorry to hear about Mrs Matheny! She taught English to me. Before I had her as a teacher I couldn’t speak a lick of English and after I could easily spell sumpin. RIP to yee and hope you are teaching English classes up in heaven for the rest of eternity.
Elise Johnson says
Mrs. Matheny was a great teacher though I only had her for a short time in Colstrip she is one I have never forgotten. My condolences to all her family and friends
Marie Kluver says
Mrs. Matheny was a very special person. She met you with a sweet smile and always took the time to visit with you.
Jodi Martin says
When people ask me who my favorite teacher of all time was I didn’t hesitate to say Ms. Matheny. She impacted so many lives. I remember her wearing her cowboy boots at my basketball games. Condolences to her family. She left a big legacy.
Bernadette(pebbles) says
Mrs mathey taught me to move on, even tho she stood at the door waiting for her students to come in. I thought she hated me. Because of her I graduated from college, and join the navy. Rest in peace
Suzette Phillips says
My most memorable, favorite teacher! She touched so many lives in a very positive way🥰
Kellye Haughian Thompson says
I love that so many of her former students still call her Mrs. Matheny. It’s a sign of great respect for an incredible lady. She is greatly missed by so many. She had such an impact on the so many lives. My heart goes to her family, friends & Terry Mattfeldt. Rest peace Mrs. Matheny. You will live on in so many of us.
Irene Nelson says
Faye was an excellent role model to students and staff. I met her in 1982 when my family came to Colstrip . She was active in Colstrip Faculty Association and I served as an officer with her for several years. Fate was a tough teacher but her students had the best. If you had Mrs. Matheny you learned grammar. As i taught I saw her mentor many young teachers. After we both retired it was fun to see her at Red Hats and also at CARPA where she loved her exercise class. She was a huge supporter of the school serving on the school board and attending all the sporting events. God’s peace to her family and special friends.
Loni Hartman says
You were such a beautiful person. I will never forget that huge smile of yours and your sweet hugs. I know you are teaching the little Angels in Heaven. God bless you.
Lara Mchenry says
This Lady!! I first met Mrs. Matheny Also known as Faye! I met her in British literature Class that she taught my junior year of high school . I really did not realize she would leave a mark upon my soul that would last most of my life, This lovely spitfire of a person fostered my great love for so many amazing pieces of literature, but I also came to know her outside of the classroom. I worked part time at the Moose Lodge after I turned 18 And Mrs. Matheny and friends Would occasionally Enjoy a respite from the daily life at the Moose Lodge. I loved her stories. I loved her friendship, her wit and her intellect.
Later on, I moved away and married and started a family of my own outside of Bozeman in a little town called Manhattan surprise surprise the restaurant I was working at part time had an amazing steakhouse called the oasis and once again I ran into Faye she recognized me immediately told me all about her sister and her family and how everybody was doing we exchanged Information and then became penpals for a time. Life became busy and then along came the Internet and I could keep tabs with her online, but never once did she fail to send me a Christmas card. This was the first year without one and a little piece of Magic seemed to have left Christmas this year. Because you see, she really was kind of a little bit of magic and we all loved her. May God recognize what a good and faithful servant, she had been to so many.