Shirley B. Tallman

Shirley B. (Makinster) Tallman, 87, of Pawnee City, passed away on Friday, June 14, 2019. She was born October 6, 1931, at her family’s home in Lamar, Nebraska, to William and Nellie (Edwards) Makinster. 

Shirley grew up in the rural farming community of Lamar. She attended Lamar Grade School, and Chase County High School in Imperial. She graduated in 1950. Shirley went to church, and trusted Jesus Christ as her Savior at church camp when she was 10 years old. 

She married family friend, Ray Sidney Tallman, in 1950. While Sid was away in the Army serving in Korea, she worked with her father on the farm. Shirley and Sid had four children, Cyndie, Rock, Ronnie and Robin. 

On Sid’s return from the military, they moved several times, and in 1957, moved to Estes Park, Colorado. In Estes, Shirley was trained in a local clinic, first as a x-ray technician, then as a lab technician, and finally as a nurse. She worked in nursing for 20 years. She enjoyed hosting friends at home parties, and being active as a room mother, and attending her children’s activities. 

Later, her health declined, and Shirley and Sid moved to the lower altitude of Pawnee City to be near their daughter Cyndie and her family. Her health diagnosis was not good, but she outlived that by over 35 years. She enjoyed friends and activities in Pawnee, like selling Avon and participating in the women’s history club. Soon she and Sid bought an RV and were spending many winters doing volunteer missions in Florida, Texas and Arizona. They took a summer-long trip to Alaska in 2004. 

Shirley took care of Sid in his declining years and after his death, she moved to Humboldt at the assisted living and then to the nursing home. She was also preceded in death by her parents, siblings and her daughter Ronnie. 

She is survived by daughter Cyndie and husband Paul Rohrbaugh of Steinauer, Rock and wife Becky Tallman of Colorado, son-in-law Dave Smith of Colorado, and daughter Robin and husband Roy Varner of Kansas. She is also survived by twelve grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. 

Services 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at Faith Baptist Church, Pawnee City, Nebraska. Several family members will speak at the service. No visitation per Shirley’s request.  Interment at the Pawnee City Cemetery, Pawnee City.  Memorials family choice.  Online condolences may be left at www.wherrymortuary.com.

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