Shirley M. Jones

May 20, 1937 - July 5, 2020

Shirley Mae Jones, 83, of Kearney, passed away at her home Sunday, July 5, 2020. Memorial services will be 10:00 a.m., July 11, 2020 at the Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral Chapel with Pastor Dean Pofahl officiating. The burial will follow the service at the Kearney Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to AseraCare Hospice of Kearney. Shirley was born May 20, 1937 in Miller, South Dakota to Edison and Bernice (Witte) Davis. She grew up on the family farm near Miller, South Dakota, and graduated from Miller High School in 1955. Shirley married Jack Jones in Miller, South Dakota on July 14, 1957. They would have celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on Tuesday. She received her C.S. Degree in South Dakota in 1958. They lived in Niobrara, Nebraska, Audubon, Iowa, Malvern, Iowa, and then Kearney for the last 37 years. Shirley worked as the lead waitress at the Kearney Holiday Inn and the Younes Center for over 25 years. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Kearney and in 1994 became an honorary member of Dobytown Kiwanis. Shirley was a faithful Husker fan. She selflessly never forgot a birthday or anniversary for her family. Her tacos and chili were legendary. Shirley genuinely touched many lives and will be greatly missed. In typical Grandma fashion, Shirley took her last breath in her home surrounded by her family listening to “Choices” by George Jones. It was peaceful and exactly what she would have wanted. Shirley is survived by her husband, Jack Jones of Kearney; daughter, Sandy (Alan) Byers of Council Bluffs, IA, Peggy Leu of Nebraska City, NE, Sharon (Tom) Jones of Omaha, NE, Cathy (Keith) Bryant of Centennial, CO; grandchildren; Jason (Mindy), Bryan, Christopher (Tina), Sarah (Dustin), Jennifer (Joe), Staci (Justin), Brittany (Matt), Carissa (James), Aaron, and Kelsey; great grandchildren, Emily, Mallory, Cami, Henry, Brecken, Teegan, Ashtin, Kade, Isla, Gatt, Reese, Riley, Raygan, Tyler, and Wyatt; brothers, Russell and Gary Davis of Miller, SD; sister, Donna Welch of Pierre SD; sisters-in-law, Beverly Jennings of Pierre, SD, Helen Raber of Longmont, CO, Ruby Gooden of Gilbert, AZ; many other family and friends. Shirley was preceded in death by her brothers, Roger and Ronald Davis, and sister, Diane Hague.