Muriel R Shea

Muriel Shea, 90, of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the Cozad Community Hospital in Cozad. 

Muriel was born on December 20, 1932 in Rural Callaway, Nebraska welcomed by her parents Ralph and Opal Anderson and two older brothers, Donald Gale and Dwight Ashley. In the following years, two siblings, Carolyn Colleen (Lichtenwalter) and Alan Andy joined the family. Her early years were in Roten Valley. She went through 8th grade in District 119 and graduated from Cozad High School in 1949. 

She started her teaching career in rural Custer and Dawson counties. On May 2, 1952 she married Richard Doyle Shea of Oconto, NE. They spent two years in Ft. Riley, Kansas and then moved north of Cozad where they farmed for a decade.  They had three children, Susan Elizabeth (Burch), Judy Ann and Francis Doyle.  In 1964 she returned to teaching in rural Lexington and joined Pershing Elementary School in 1970. She retired in 1995. 

The central joys of her life were family and teaching. Outside of those roles she was a notorious quilter and frequent traveler throughout the United States and abroad. Locally, she was active in the Methodist church and enjoyed her many groups: quilting, book clubs, scrabble, the Pepto Bismol Kids 4-H club, and PEO, and she could often be spotted at water aerobics.  Many, many family members, students and friends were lucky enough to enjoy her baked goods, especially her bread. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents and two older brothers. 

She is survived by her brother Alan Anderson and sister Carolyn Lichtenwalter, three children: Susan Burch, Judy Shea and John Norcini, Doyle Shea and Georgiann Kline; four grandchildren, Brandy and her husband Todd Fogarty, Brent Burch, Shea Norcini, and Michael Norcini; and three great grandchildren, Delaney, Brogan and McKeon Fogarty.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 15, 2023, with family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington.

Funeral Services will be on Friday, June 16, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Lexington with Pastor Velma Tim, officiating.

Graveside Services will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Oconto, Nebraska.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are kindly suggested to the Lexington Public Library or Donor’s Choice.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com