Shirley Schaefer

Shirley A Schaefer

Shirley passed away on May 11, 2025, at Ponderosa Villa Nursing Home in Crawford, Nebraska. She was born on January 25, 1937, in Harrison. She was the daughter of Adolph and Marguerite Zurcher with one sister Colleen Zurcher Ladwig.

Shirley lived her entire life in Harrison. She loved to play the piano and sing. In the third grade she started to play the clarinet, which she was very fond of and continued to play throughout her school years. She also played in the downtown street band and concerts every Saturday night during the summer and at the Sioux County Fair. Shirley eventually became a member of the Siouxettes, a singing group, in Harrison. She graduated from Sioux County High School in 1954.

Shirley worked at the theatre in Harrison for six years where Elmer Schaefer would say, if you got too loud, she would tap you with her flashlight to get you back in line. Saturday movies at the Sioux County Theatre always drew a nice crowd.

Vernon and Shirley were married in Harrison on January 21,1956, four years after he returned home from the Airforce. They moved out to the Schaefer Brothers Ranch north of Harrison where they lived for the next ten years. On February 13, 1958, their only son Stanley Kevin was born in Crawford, Nebraska.

In 1966, they moved back to town where Vernon began working for Hi-Way Garage, which they later purchased in 1977. In 1973 they purchased the Verne Tipton Ranch. Then in 1982 they bought additional land from Loren Zerbe and finally in 1985, bought the William Schaefer Ranch. All of which still being operated by the Schaefer family to this day.

Their son Stanley graduated from Sioux County High School in 1976. Stanley and his lifelong friend from Chadron State College, John Broadbooks, loved to sing and play piano together with Shirley. Stanley married Rosemary Hagen of Scottsbluff, Nebraska on August 1, 1980. They had two sons, Scott Kevin and Brian Gene. Because Stanley and Rosemary were over the road truckers Vernon and Shirley raised the boys from a young age until they graduated from high school.

Shirley was Vernon's bookkeeper at Hi-Way Garage for many years, with their son Stanley assisting later. Scott was known as Vernon's right-hand man until Vernon passed on October 13, 1998. Shirley loved Vernon very dearly as well as the rest of her family.

Scott married Caitlin Muldoon of South Dakota in May 2011 and Brian married Michele Rodgers of Oklahoma in January 2025. Scott & Caitlin have four children, Weston, Gracyn, Tace and Tyce.

Shirley was a devout Catholic and attended Mass regularly where she sang until she lost her singing voice in later years. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends and community.

A memorial has been established for the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Harrison. Donations can be mailed to Chamberlin Chapel P.O. Box 970 Chadron NE, 69337.

Arrangements for Shirley A Schaefer are in care of Chamberlin Mortuary of Chadron Nebraska. Memorial Services for 88-year-old Shirley A Zurcher Schaefer of Harrison, Nebraska will be on June 12, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Harrison Nebraska. Online condolences may be left a www.chamberlinchapel.com.