Shirley A. Mathewson

Shirley A. Mathewson, age 89 of Potter, passed away at Sidney Care and Rehabilitation Center in Sidney, Sunday, July 2, 2017.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 7, in the Prairie West Church in Potter with Pastor Corey Jenkins officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Potter Cemetery. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Thursday from 1-7 p.m. to sign Shirley's register book and drop off condolences for the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Shirley's name to the Potter Rescue Unit or The Prairie West Church in Potter. You may view Shirley's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Shirley's care and funeral arrangements.

Shirley Ann (Simms) Mathewson was born on October 10, 1927 in Heartwell to William "Pete" Simms and Edith Anita (Sumstine) Simms. She was the fifth of six children; she had (1) sister and (4) brothers. Her family moved to Sidney when she was three months old. Her mother died when Shirley was eight and her dad died when Shirley was twelve. Her sister Mabel then raised Shirley. She attended all her school years at Sidney and graduated in 1945. In 1946 she met the love of her entire life, a farmer from Potter, Wendel Mathewson. Wendel and Shirley were married on December 21, 1946 in Saint Francis, Kansas and shared sixty-one years together, before his passing in May 2008. They lived all their married life south of Potter, raising (5) daughters, crops and cattle. Shirley worked as a warehouse woman at the Sioux Army Depot before her marriage. She was a 50 year member of the Potter Methodist Church, Member of the Mount Vernon Community Center, 40 plus member of the Juliete Extension club, member of the United Methodist Women's group and a 4-H leader. She also enjoyed genealogy as a hobby. Shirley is survived by her daughters, Jeanne (Jerry) Steele, Geraldine Johnson, all of Potter; Judy (Randy) Sprenger, Nancy (Dan) Deaver, all of Sidney and Kathy (Bruce) Kokes of Crook, CO, (17) grandchildren: Chad Steele, Janetta (Corey) Lenstrom, Chera (Chris Gabis) Steele, Robert Johnson, Bradley Johnson, Jeff (Shauna) Johnson, Jay C. Johnson, Jed Johnson, Darci (Victor) Yeley, Marc Sprenger, Michelle (Jason) Nielsen, Brian (Carrie Bledso) Deaver, Aaron (Sarah) Deaver, Matt (Michelle) Deaver, Levi ( Emily) Kokes, Brett (Jenna) Kokes and Brittany (Travis) Cook. (24) Great Grand Children: Hailae, Katherine, Kyle, Alexis, Weston, Whitney, Liam, Kyleen, Niko, Kirsten, Becky, Hadley, Brenley, Adison, Faith, Landon, Ava, Michael, Lindsey, Jonathon, Laura, Liam, Nolan, Lane, Ty, Sawyer and Hank and (1) great-great-granddaughter Paisley. Sister-in-law Mary Simms of CA, Brother & Sister-in-law Rodney and Arlene Mathewson of Sidney, and Sister-in-law Emma Mathewson of Sterling, CO and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Wendel, her grandparents William & Mary Simms and Frank & Anna Sumstine, parents William & Edith Simms, sister Mabel & Harry George of Grand Island, her brothers; Gaylord & Lottie Simms, Howard & Vivian Simms of California, Clyde & Dee Simms of Sidney and Donald Simms of California. Sons-in law: Ronald Halstead & Kent Johnson and granddaughter Sheri Jo Halstead. In-laws, Warren "Dude" & Kate (Herboldsheimer) Mathewson, Carol Harris, Dale & Leota McKinney and Max Mathewson.