Shirley Owens

Shirley Ann Owens, 70, of Curtis died April 14, 2015 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, Nebraska.
She was born September 22, 1944 in her parents farm home southeast of Stockville, Nebraska in Frontier County to Dick T. and Willa Marie (Arent) Owens.
Shirley is survived by her sister Patsie (Russell) Wood of Cambridge, NE; her brother John (Bernita) Owens of Stockville, NE; sister-in-law Mary Owens of Hill City, SD. She is also survived by seven nieces and nephews; Cathy, Jim, Janelle, Kevin, Rocky, Marci and Tonya. Nineteen great nieces and nephews; two great-great nieces and one great-great nephew, uncle Chuck (Carol) Arent of Red Feather CO; aunts Beverly Johnson, of Cozad, NE; Leona Greenlee of North Platte, NE. as well as numerous cousins and step nieces and nephews.
Shirley was preceded in death by both parents (Dick Owens and Willa Mortimore), stepfather (Ervin Mortimore), grandparents (Tom and Cora Owens) and (Fredrick and Elizabeth Arent), brother (Harold Owens), stepbrother (Richard Lyle Owens), niece (Bonny Owens) nephew (Richard Gardner).
Shirley started her school years at District #9 Grade School in Stockville, NE, after the family moved to the Curtis area she attended Curtis Grade School. She attended high school at UNSA at Curtis, graduating in 1963. The family lived in several places in the Curtis and Maywood area. They lived in town and the country and also ran the Curtis Hotel for several years. Shirley helped her mom at the hotel and also helped with the livestock on the farm. She still lived on their farm between Curtis and Maywood for awhile after her mother passed away.  Later she moved to Frontier Village. After moving to Curtis, Shirley worked at the Senior Citizen Center where she loved making new friends and visiting with old ones. She later moved to Senior Living Choices Assisted Living in Curtis. As her health began to decline she moved to Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook, NE.
She loved life, laughter, hard work and especially her nieces and nephews. She loved bowling, embroidery work, mowing, driving her car,  attending livestock sales, vacations, and listening and watching Classic Country Music and Bluegrass Music. She liked to watch RFD TV. You can bet on a Saturday night she was watching her favorite shows. She especially liked the Hank Williams music that singer David Church sang, and of course the Molly B Polka Party! She and her family enjoyed attending the Country Music Festival at Ainsworth, NE. for many years.
Shirley had a special warm spot in her heart for her pets, especially dogs! She liked to ride horses and faithfully attended the Frontier County Fair where the Rodeo was one of her favorite events. She loved getting together with family, always smiling and greeting each member with a hug.
Visitation will be Thursday April 16,2015, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. with family present from 6-8 p.m.  at Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Funeral Home, 317 Center Avenue, Curtis, NE.
Funeral services will be Friday April 17, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Curtis, NE. with Pastor Derrick Brown officiating.  Burial will be in the Arbor Cemetery in Stockville, NE.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the area Senior Citizens Center, 119 Center Avenue, PO  Box 162 Curtis, NE 69025.