Shirley Jane (Gourley) Nissen was born on January 8, 1937, in Phillipsburg, Missouri, to Frank and Alice (VanBuskirk) Gourley. She passed away on May 18, 2024, at Oakland Heights in Oakland at the age of 87.

Shirley’s family moved to Nebraska in 1941. She attended grade school at Benson District No. 46 and Bucktown District No. 54. She graduated from Criag High School in 1954.

On January 16, 1954, Shirley was united in marriage to Loy J. Nissen. They resided in Highland Park, Illinois, until November of 1955, when Loy got out of the service. They moved to live and farm with Bodolf Nissen. They joined Westside Methodist Church on April 1, 1956. They moved to Blair, Nebraska, in October of 1956, where Loy worked for the rock quarry. In February of 1958, they moved to a farm northwest of Oakland.

Shirley worked at the Coop Fertilizer Plant for one year. She went on to work at Corner Café for ten years, retiring in 1998. Her last job was working at B&B’s Bar and Grill for five years.

Shirley joined the Viking Lodge in 1974. She held every office within the lodge, the last being treasurer, for 16 years.

Shirley loved gardening, growing flowers, cooking and baking for family, and having 3 o’clock coffee with Loy and any family and friends that stopped by.

She was preceded in death by her son, Randy Nissen; sister and brother-in-law, Elsie and Vic; brother and sisters-in-law, Wayne, Elaine and Tootie; sister, Patsy; brother, Ronnie; brother and sister-in-law, Davey and Renae; brothers-in-law, Tommy and Rollie; nieces, Debbie Roth and Dawn Gourley; and great-grandson, Alex.

She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Loy; children: Debbie; Brenda (Mort) and Cherry (Norm); grandchildren: Jason, Troy (DaNell) and Shea (Mandy); Toni; Brittney (Dusty); Austin; Dezi; Amelia (Dan); and Ryan; great-grandchildren: Brody; Shaylee; Adalyn; Joplin; Jalyn; Parker; Bryce; Hailey; Nathan; Ethen; Adyan; Annabelle and Elliott; great-great-grandchild, Raelynn; brother-in-law, Larry Nelsen; sisters, Sharon Glen of Dallas, TX and Alice Jo Uhing of Tekamah, NE; brother, Frank “Jimmy” (Ruthe) Gourley of Kenesaw, NE; many nieces and nephews.