Shirley Ealy

Funeral services for Shirley Ann Ealy, age 59, of Gillette will be 9:00 a.m. Saturday, January 28, 2006 at the Blanche Beck Memorial Chapel in Pioneer Manor, with Pastor Bob Rudichar of Cornerstone Church of God officiating. Interment will be at 11:00 a.m. in Green Mountain Cemetery in Sundance, Wyoming. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m., Friday, January 27, 2006 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Gillette.Shirley died Thursday, January 26, 2006 at Campbell County Memorial Hospital of natural causes.Shirley was born April 8, 1946 the daughter of Murel and Gladys (Hockett) Ealy in Sundance, Wyoming. She lived on the family ranch until 1957 and attended home school while on the ranch. The second of three children, she contracted polio at age three. Told that she would not live to see her teenage years, she defied the doctors and the odds and became the poster child for Easter Seals of Wyoming during the 1961-62 campaign. Shirley was a talented musician, an accomplished accordion and organ player. She would play dances with her brother Butch on the horn with the highlight of playing for their parent?s 50th wedding anniversary. Shirley was educated at several different schools in Crook, Weston and Campbell Counties, culminating with her graduation from Campbell County High School in 1965. She also attended Black Hills State University for one year during the 1965-66 school sessions. Over the years she lived in North Dakota, Arizona, California and Nevada. While in North Dakota she served as Vice President on the Souris Basin Transportation Board for 4 years and she served for one year as President. She also served as President of the Ward County Transportation Board, as well as the Senior Citizens Board. While residing in Gillette, she worked for Tax Deductibles, the Gillette Campus of Sheridan College, Higher Education Services and the Mine Safety and Health Administration. As a resident of Pioneer Manor for the last two years, Shirley was President of Pioneer Manor Residents Council and an advocate for the Handicapped. Her hobbies included crocheting, reading, playing and listening to music, and watching the Denver Broncos football games (of which she was an extremely avid fan). She also enjoyed spending time with her best friend and aide of 11 years Zachary Taylor, her German Shephard companion.Shirley will be missed by her mother, Gladys and step-father Larry Thomas, brother, Butch and wife Thelma of Gillette, son, Scott Ramsdell and granddaughter, Jackie Ramsdell of Stockton, California, and numerous nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her father, Murel, sister, Sandra and her German Shepherd companion Zachary.Memorials are suggested to benefit the Easter Seals or the Aid Dogs.Memorials and condolences may be sent in Shirley?s name in care of Stevenson Funeral Home, 210 W. 5th St., Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or via the internet at www.stevensonandsons.com