Shirley Mccue

Shirley Jean McCue of Martin, South Dakota passed away on December 1st, 2022, just 25 days shy of her 91st birthday.

Shirley was born December 26, 1931, at Gordon, NE, to W.L (Bill) Coon and Nellie Ruhama (Ruie) Morris Coon. She grew up at “6 Mile” hill and attended East Pride Country School, where her mother was a teacher.  Her dad and all her brothers, in addition to her four children also attended East Pride.  She later attended Gordon High School and represented the school as the lead majorette.  During her high school years she visited her brother Morris in Albuquerque, NM, where she received her high school diploma.

While Shirley was growing up, her dad, Bill, was the president of the Gordon Fair and Rodeo Association.  Here she met Casey Tibbs, Jack Bushborn, Jim Shoulders, and many other great rodeo contestants of the time.  She was very proud of her time spent as a timer and secretary for the rodeo association. Shirley was a member of the SDRA and the NCRA.  One of her favorite times of the year was when the National Rodo Finals were on TV, she would watch all 10 nights, and critique and time.

Shirley married George Waddell in 1947. To this union George Douglas was born.

In 1952 Shirley married Charles (Chuck) Goedde in Reno, Nevada.  Chuck adopted Doug and the family of three made their way to the last frontier of Nome, Alaska, where they made their home until 1959.  While living in Alaska, their children Mary, Bill and Sherrill were born. Chuck and Shirley owned the Anchor Tavern and a cab company while living in Nome.  Shirley loved her time spent living in Alaska and often reminisced with her grandchildren about her time spent there.

In 1959 the family moved back to the Lower 48 when Shirley’s dad fell ill.  They lived in both Gordon, NE and Martin, SD during this time.  One of her favorite stories to tell was when she and Chuck were managing the American Legion, and Johnny Cash stopped in after having a flat tire on his way out of a concert in Mission.

In 1976 Shirley married Clark (Dupe) McCue. No children were born of this union.  She was married to Dupe until his death in December 2021. Dupe and Shirley played a great part in their grandchildren’s lives, and Shirley was most proud of her grandchildren Kyla, Casey, Shannon, Nikki, Andrew, Angel, and Jacoby.

Shirley obtained her LPN license, and she was known as a great nurse in the community.  When Kyla started grade school, Shirley didn’t want her to go alone, so she applied to be the school nurse, where she worked for several years. She also worked at the hospital, the Martin clinic, and in Kyle and Rosebud clinics. She settled in as the Director of Nursing’s assistant, her office located in the nursing home, where she stayed until she retired at 81 years old.  Her family used to joke that she was older than most of the residents she helped take care of.

Shirley was an active community member and spent many years serving on the City Council.

Shirley spent her retired years at her home, and she was adamant that was where she wanted to be when she became ill about four years ago.  She had a strong will to live and was stubborn in her care. She was a nurse and knew how to best keep her body fit, even through the illnesses she struggled with. You would never see Shirley uptown shopping without a full face of makeup, her jewelry on and her “hair did”.  Her weekly appointments with Lorraine at the beauty shop were something she looked forward to, and she enjoyed spending the last year of her life with her son Bill, and her friend Lennie who both helped her out tremendously (when she would let them!)

Shirley was preceded in death by her father and Mother, her brothers Morris, Wayne, Dean and Bill Coon. Her daughter Sherrill, her stepson Steve McCue, and her husband Dupe.

She is survived by her sons Doug Goedde and William (Bill) Goedde and her daughter Mary (Steve) Schroeder.  Her grandchildren Kyla Byrne-Pomrenke, Casey Byrne, Shannon (Donna) Goedde, Andrew (Ashley) Schroeder, Nicole (Myshell) Schroeder-Old’s, Angel Goedde and Jacoby Goedde.

Great-Grandchildren Ryan Pomrenke, Rachel Patton, Jonathan Pomrenke, Erica Claire Pomrenke, Blake Pomrenke, Caiden Byrne, Robin Dawson, Kimberly Goedde, Everett, Lola, Odin and Rory Schroeder-Olds, Thai Taylor, Alice Marley Garnett, Mason Goedde and Zoe Goedde and Riley Dawson. Nieces Christy Coon and Bev Weinmaster, Nephews Wynn and Bill Coon, Family friend Lennie Pettit Allison, and too many other friends and co-workers to count.

Shirley was a lifetime member of the Ladies Legion Auxiliary. Donations in her memory may be sent to Bennett County Funeral Services, PO Box 65, Martin, SD 57551.

Services honoring Shirley’s life will be held on Friday, December 9 at 10 am at the new American Legion with lunch to follow. Interment will be at the Gordon Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest beside her daughter, Sherrill.  All are welcome.