Shirley Jo Mead

1932 - 2025

Shirley Jo Mead

August 10, 1932 - July 31, 2025

Ten days before her 93rd birthday, Shirley Jo (Coy) Mead passed peacefully on July 31 at Pathways Inpatient Care Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. A memorial service will be held on August 23rd at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Scottsbluff, Nebraska at 2:00 p.m., followed by a Celebration of Life reception from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Northfield Retirement Community. Streaming service will be available. In lieu of lowers, memorial gifts can be sent to the Covenant House or St. Francis Episcopal Church.

Shirley was born in Beatrice, Nebraska to Dorthe (VanVranken) and Joseph Hepperlen on August 10, 1932. In 1940, Dorthe remarried, and Weld "Red" Coy adopted Shirley, initiating a lasting, warm relationship. Red welcomed his bride and eight-year-old Shirley into the Waterloo family home. Raising and caring for their two horses and family trips to Colorado were highlights of Shirley's childhood until she spent three summers at Cheley Camp in Estes Park, Colorado. Ever since, she could describe in vivid detail climbing Longs Peak at age 14.

Shirley attended the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, where she earned a Bachelor of Science and teaching degree. During college, Shirley was a member and officer of Alpha Phi fraternity, Nu Chapter and a member of the YWCA. Two years post-college, on a cross-Atlantic cruise, she was introduced to Richard (Dick) Mead by other ship guests - his parents! They met in Venice, Italy and fell in love through letters over the following 10 months. They were married December 1956 in Fremont, Nebraska and moved to Massachusetts in 1957, which became the source of many close friendships, Shirley's love for New England, and the beginning of their family. Susan and John were born in 1958 and 1959 respectively. In 1960 they moved to Scottsbluff, Nebraska where Dick joined his family business and Shirley nested happily over the next 65 years. Here, their third child Sarah was born in 1963.

Shirley lived life with gusto and loved travel and adeventure of all kinds. From camping, backpacking and canoe trips to ziplining, safaris and sightseeing, she was always game for an escapade. As a longtime friend and travel companion summarized, "Shirley enhanced every trip we took with boundless enthusiasm and her love of animals." Kind, caring and generous Shirley took genuine interest in people, places, and things; she was a collector of antiques, arts, and the stories of others from all walks of life.

She also delighted in being a mother, wife, homemaker, teacher, and community-service advocate. Between 1968 and the mid-80s, she held a variety of teaching positions in the Scottsbluff area.

Her passion for all things nature - and especially animals - inspired Shirley's devotion of time and support for the Panhandle Humane Society and the Riverside Discovery Center and Zoo in Scottsbluff, where she served as a Docent for 30 years. As a faithful Christian and member of St. Francis (formerly St. Andrews) Episcopal Church, she was honored for 64 years of service on the Altar Guild. Other volunteer activities and interests included Regional West Medical Center, the House of Transfiguration in Bayard, National Episcopal Church Women, PEO, Garden Club, Questers, the West Nebraska Arts Center, and Legacy of the Plains Museum. She was an avid bridge player until January 2025, when she moved to Loveland, Colorado, to be closer to family.

She is survived by her daughters Susan (Webb Jones) of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Sarah (Pat O'Dea) of Berthoud, Colorado, son John (Susan) of Roseville, California, grandchildren Miranda (Jon) Reese, Denny (Kyle) Walker, Spencer Mead (Halee Novotny) of Lakeville, Minnesota, Eli (Emily) Mead, and great-grandchildren Tionna, Lincoln, and Jackson Walker and Everly Mead. She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Dick Mead.