Shirley York, 73, of Cozad, Nebraska, died Saturday, April 19th, 2012, at the Golden Living Care Center at Cozad.

Shirley was born September 11th, 1938, at Gothenburg, Nebraska to Paul and Bonnie (Winans) Bratten. She attended rural school at Wild Horse Valley through the eighth grade and continued her education and graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1956. Shirley was raised in the Wild Horse Valley north of Brady, where her family owned a ranch that had been in the family for two generations. They attended the Svea Dahl Church, which her grandfather was integral in building.

On August 16th, 1957, Shirley married Carl York. The couple made their home in Cozad where they raised their children, David and Susan. When their children entered school, Shirley began work at the meat department of a local grocery. Shirley eventually went on to work at First Bank & Trust in Cozad for 22 years, until her health failed her in 1988. She loved visiting with all of the customers and enjoyed her co-workers.

Shirley was a musician, enjoying piano, organ and accordion. She enjoyed singing in the First United Methodist Choir and being the musician for the Cozad Does Drove for many years, of which she was a member.

Shirley enjoyed their cabin at Midway Lake. She was very proud of the fact that she usually caught the biggest fish. She took swimming lessons as an adult and also skied across Midway Lake. She loved to travel and enjoyed all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Shirley and Carl were involved in the Cozad Elks Lodge. She supported Carl through all of the various office chairs and enjoyed traveling to numerous lodges across the state and nation.

Shirley liked to paint outside, that way she could "slap on the paint". She collected cardinals and cobalt blue dishes. She displayed many of her family heirloom dishes and loved answering questions of what had belonged to whom.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Art.

Survivors include her husband, Carl York of Cozad; son, David York of Denver, Colorado; daughter, Susan (Kris) Kloepping of Cozad; grandson, Adam (Kristen) Kloepping of Chetek, Wisconsin; granddaughter, Sara Kloepping of Kearney, Nebraska; great-grandchildren, Emma, Kaden and Braxton of Chetek Wisconsin; brother, Roger (Marilyn) Bratten of Brady; sister, Sharon (Dale) Meyer of New London, Wisconsin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services were held on Saturday, April 21st, 2012, at 2 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Cozad with Pastor Doug Smith officiating. Burial was in the Cozad Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in her memory. Condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com.

Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad was in charge of arrangements.