On a blistering hot August 9, 1935, in the red hills of Custer County on the family homestead, southeast of Butler, Oklahoma the fifth child of Ernest  Augustus "Gus" Shirley and the third daughter of Mildred Treslyn (Vanderwork) Shirley was born into this world.

Gussie Ann Shirley was surely named after her sweet Daddy.  We loved her special first name, but her, not so much, so Ann it would be.  Her loving sisters, Ruth, Wanda, and Sadie welcomed her to the family farm.  Everett, their brother had died at the young age of sixteen, before she was born.  The sisters were raised on hard work, the typical farm chores learned as well as the daily household work.  You can only imagine with five females on the farm, you were expected to be both domestically useful and also qualified to milk cows, churn butter, fix fence, gather eggs, tend the garden, can the vegetables and feed the animals.  As we all know that generation of folks never ever ran out of work to be done.

The Shirley family loved their life on the farm.  They were thankful and blessed to be part of establishing agricultural roots to the land.  The love of the land was so evident in all four girls their entire lives.

Mildred passed away at the age of 54.  Mother was fifteen at the time and a year later, Sadie would graduate and leave home; leaving her baby sister to keep the home running smoothly.  And she would do just that because it was what was expected.  That's just what one did in times of tragedy.  Granddad was brokenhearted and surely Mother was also.  But with grace and true grit, she did just what she had been taught all her life.  Her humble life, full of love and hard work transformed her into the amazing woman she was.  A few years later, granddad married sweet Fern, who quickly became a loving stepmother and grandmother to us.

Mother attended Butler school and graduated Salutatorian in 1952.  On April 17, 1954, she married Bobby Collins.  Daddy tells the story that he was smitten with her at the young age of 6!  As she climbed on the bus for school one morning, he declared to their lifelong friend Bill Haney, that she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen, remember he is 7!  He even made a vow to marry her!  So then begins their journey together.  Mother loved the Collins clan as her own and made sure we spent lots of time with them, making memories.

Mother helped put Dad through college by working as a telephone operator.  Anyone over fifty knows what that's all about!  They were living the college life at SWOSC and developing friendships that have lasted a lifetime.  Even today, those precious friends are sharing today with us.

To this loving marriage, 2 daughters Kim and Pam were born.  They settled in Frederick in 1958.  I was 2 and Pam 2 weeks old.  And so, their precious life together of 62 years, full of awesome memories in Frederick began.  Mother was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grammie and friend.  Her role as a nurturing soul would play out right in front of us all.  When Mother was nine, she attended a church revival, and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and savior and was baptized in the Baptist Church.  So as soon as we settled into our new life in Frederick, we joined First Baptist Church where she remained an active member.  She loved her church family and her God.  We are certain her churchwork was a witness to many over the years.

As so many of you know, there wasn't anything Mother couldn't do.  She was always determined to try something new.  Her many talents included: amazing cooking, that she shared with so many families.  Her impeccable talents as a seamstress, she made all of our clothes growing up and continued with the grands making matching dresses for Easter and Christmas ever year for Jayme, Jillian and Jenna.

Mother's beautiful handwork, which included knitting (hundreds of afghans) crocheting, told us she had made over 60+ family names for gifts, numerous cross stitch and needle point pictures.  Mothers handmade quilts were perfection to say the least.  Many bed and baby blankets were stitched or knitted.  All the great grandchildren have "Gussies" as they are lovingly called, plus those she shared with family friends.

She was a darn good pencil and watercolor artist.  But you didn't know that.  She never realized her talent, but we framed them and have them hanging in our homes.

Mother had a green thumb and always took pride in her many houseplants.  She had a sense of style in her décor and appearance.  She always looked "sharp" in our eyes.  You never saw her without lipstick or brushed hair.  Famous words to us girls "you look pale, put some color on those lips!"

Her love of sports had to be a given!  She so enjoyed all the ballgames, whether it was football, basketball, baseball or golf.  Married to a coach, it was just ingrained.  I'm sure we attended thousands of ballgames and loved every minute!

Probably the most enjoyable, but competitive aspect of her life was the card game of bridge!  She spent hundreds of hours playing with her girlfriends.  It was the highlight of her days, playing 2 to 3 times a week.  Again, she wasn't one to brag, but we always knew she had played good and won.  "Just got good cards" she would say.  But she was an awesome player and played up to about a year ago.

Mother worked for the U.S. Selective Service, aka, the draft and Frederick Schools.  She was a member of the Busy Bee Homemaker's Club and an active member of the ESA Sorority.  In 1973, her and Dad ventured out and bought the Copa Motel, which she ran for several years.  She loved the business and all the wonderful people that she met.  She could tell some wild stories about their adventures in the motel business.  We're sure there were many she couldn't share either!  She was very business minded and on occasions we all changed bed sheets and scrubbed a few toilets!  Hey whatever it took, as a family we made it happen.  She taught us the importance of working hard and saving for the future.  We used to rib her about her frugalness, and she would just look at us and say: "You'll see one day!"

Mother spent many hours at the Rempel's "Out to Lunch" where she became even more famous for her delicious desserts.  Chocolate, Spice, Italian Cream Cakes, Chocolate and Coconut Cream and Pecan Pies were always in demand.  She was all about pleasing and comforting foods.

Oh, our precious Momma!  She would not approve of all this showcasing.  We always told her if we could be a fraction of the women she has been, we would be satisfied.  We would like to share our loving thoughts of all the good people that Mother and Dad brought into our lives growing up.  Mother always told us, "To have good friends, you have to be a good friend."  Wise words!  And they must have been awesome friends because they have had the best!  We treasure their lifelong friends, as our own today.

Mother lived a full and blessed life.  Her and Dad traveled all over the United States and enjoyed many cruises.  Her and Dad worked and played side by side.  She was our biggest cheerleader and always made things better.  She loved going to the farm, moving tractors, helping with fence fixing, watching the harvesting of crops, but the one thing she truly enjoyed was checking cattle and watching the new baby calves frolic around in the pasture.  It brought joy to her heart.

Of all her many accomplishments and talents, I would have to say her family meant the most to her.  She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother and grammie and friend.  Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life.  Mother loved unconditionally and never judged or had ill will towards anyone or anything.  She set that awesome example in each of our lives.  They love her with all their heart and soul and will treasure their sweet memories for a lifetime.  Her legacy will live on in each of them in their own way.  Her sons-in-law Jim and John, she treated as "her boys".  Their relationship with "Mom" was very special and they would have done anything for her.

Mother is survived by her husband Bob of 66 years.  Daughters, Kim Lamb and husband John and Pam Rempel and husband Jim.  Four loving grandchildren, Jim Bob Rempel and wife Kristen, Jayme O'Brien and husband Les, Jillian Williams and husband Kyle, and Jenna Nuncio and her husband Gilbert.  Ten precious great-grandchildren, Avery Rempel, Ella O'Brien, Treslyn Williams, Landry Rempel, Crosby Nuncio, Collins Rempel, Kimber Nuncio, Jaxon Williams, Emma O'Brien and Kelton Nuncio.  A sister, Sadie Alther and husband George.  Mother is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and cousins who were all very special to her.  In addition to her loving survivors is Maria Puentes Lesniak.  Their special friendship developed into love over the last 2 years.  Their connection was nothing short of God's love.  Thank you, Maria, for always being there and providing the best care from your heart.

She is preceded in death by her parents E.A. "Gus" and Mildred (Vanderwork) Shirley.  Sisters, Ruth Nelson, Wanda Bowman and brother, Everett Shirley and several brothers and sisters-in-law that she dearly loved.

Finally, this may have been lengthy, but honestly it was just a short version of Mothers full life.  Please don't let the importance of embracing each and every day of your life slip by.  Make the most of each day and even more importantly, love to the fullest.  Make your "Dash" count!

Written by:  Kim Collins Lamb