Shirley (Stratton) Staman

Obituary lovingly written by Shirley’s family: Shirley Bea (Stratton) Staman, 94, of rural Scottsbluff, Nebraska passed away on Monday, March 17, 2025, at Oakley Place in Topeka, Kansas. She died from natural causes. Shirley was born on September 7, 1930, to Chester “Chet” and Hazel (Smith) Stratton in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. She attended Lake Alice School in rural Scottsbluff and graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1947. Shirley married Dale Staman on September 20, 1948. They farmed and raised cattle in the Lake Alice area and ranched in Sioux County, Nebraska. Shirley ran the lunch program at Lake Alice School for a number of years. She was also active at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff in the auxiliary as a volunteer. Shirley and her daughter, Dalene volunteered in the hospital print shop. They also volunteered at the Scottsbluff First United Methodist Church preparing the church bulletins for Sunday services. In addition, Shirley volunteered at immunization clinics for children held each spring in the former St. Mary’s building of the West Nebraska Regional Medical Center. She organized the paperwork needed by the children and their families. Shirley had a lifelong love of animals. Dale and Shirley and their family belonged to the Scottsbluff Panhandle Saddle Club for many years. Shirley was a member of the Liberty Belles Drill Team composed of approximately thirty women who were members of the saddle club. They did a series of precision drills while riding their horses and displaying flags such as the American flag, state flags, and flags for special events. They performed at numerous events in the Panhandle and surrounding areas such as rodeos and bicentennial celebrations. They also had the honor of performing at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Shirley and Dale had deep roots in the Lake Alice Community. It was their home, a community of their family, relatives, friends, and neighbors where people genuinely care about and help each other. They were married almost seventy years. They were members of the Vine United Methodist Church for over fifty years, with Shirley remaining a member after Dale passed away in 2018. More than anything else, Shirley loved and cherished Dale and their daughters. They had three daughters, Wendelynn “Wendy”, Dalene, and Dennette. Dennette died shortly after birth. They always wanted the best for them and did everything they could to support their daughters’ needs, including Dalene’s special needs as a person with an exuberant spirit who had cerebral palsy. Shirley was very proud and interested in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and their interests in activities, education, and careers. She always tried to provide encouragement and emphasize learning, as she said, “Learn everything you can wherever you are.” Both her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have many fond memories of their summertime adventures on the farm with Shirley and Dale. Shirley moved to Topeka, Kansas in 2024 to be with her daughter, Wendy and son-in-law, Darrell, and their family. Shirley is survived by daughter, Wendy (Darrell) Hessler of Topeka; granddaughter, Tiffany (Jerry) Droge of Lawrence, Kansas; grandson, Todd Hessler of Las Vegas, Nevada; great-granddaughter, Victoria Droge of Pella, Iowa; great-grandson, Justin Droge of Lawrence, Kansas; and several special nieces and a nephew. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Dale, daughters, Dennette and Dalene, parents, Chet and Hazel Stratton, brother, Kenneth, and sisters, Doris and Clarice Kay. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, April 4, 2025, at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614, with Chaplain Shampayne Lloyd officiating. Cremation has taken place per Shirley’s wishes. Shirley's memorial service will be live-streamed on the funeral home's Facebook page, you can follow this link https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063672125244 A family memorial fund has been established to Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy, 270388 Country Road U, Gering, Nebraska 69341, in care of Kathy Gatch. Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy provides therapeutic horseback riding for children with special needs in the Nebraska Panhandle and the surrounding areas. Condolences may be sent online at www.kevinbrennanfamily.com

Shirley (Stratton) Staman

September 7, 1930 - March 17, 2025