WYNOT — Shirley F. Gowery, 92, Wynot, our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother died peacefully Dec. 8, 2024, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, S.D., surrounded by her family. Funeral Services will be Dec. 12, at 10:30 a.m., at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Hartington, with Rev. David Halaas officiating. A livestream of the funeral will also be available at www.facebook. com/WintzRay/live. Burial will be at the Wynot Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Shirley’s grandsons; Craig Gowery, Tyler Gowery, Nathan McLaughlin, Tanner Maxon, Matthew Maxon and Connor McLaughlin.

Honorary Pallbearers will be granddaughters Shannon Heimes, Jenna Hans, Heather Hansen, Heidi Magorian, Ashley Tiahrt, Kylee Lohmeier and Haley Heine.

Visitation will be Wednesday, from 5-7:30 p.m., at the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington. Visitation will continue Thursday, at church, one hour prior to services.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington.

Shirley was born near Lindy, to Arthur and Ellen (McFarland) Driver Aug. 23, 1932, the oldest of six children. Her childhood was spent on a farm east of St. James. She graduated in 1950 from Wynot High School. She received a teacher’s certificate from Wayne State Teachers College and taught at a country school near Coleridge.

She married the love of her life, Harley Gowery, June 10, 1954. She loved living on Brooky Bottom her entire married life of 61 1/2 years, referring to it as God’s country. She loved listening to the whippoorwills and watching the varied wildlife. This marriage was blessed with five children. She was proud to graduate from Yankton College in 1975 as a nontraditional student, no small feat with five children at home. She resumed her teaching career spanning 30 years at Brooky Bottom District #7, St. Helena and Wynot Public School. She enjoyed the second grade level most. She retired from teaching in 1998.

Upon retirement, she took her first quilting class and became hooked. It quickly became one of her passions and great therapy after Harley’s death Jan. 5, 2016. She completed many quilts making sure each child and grandchild received a labor of love. She was passionate about her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, praying faithfully for them. Other passions were church, teaching, babysitting, reading, cooking and baking, and serving others. She was very proud of being in two five-generation pictures, one as the baby, the other as a great-grandma.

In 2020, she had a life-changing stroke and was no longer able to live at her beloved home.

Shirley is survived by her five children, Terry (Donna) Gowery, Wynot; Becky (Gary) Huser, Sioux City, Iowa; Lonny Gowery, Minden; Nancy (Glen) Maxon, Laurel; and Sherry (Tom) McLaughlin, Papillion; 13 grandchildren, Shannon (Tyler) Heimes, Jenna (Justin) Hans, Tyler Gowery; Craig (Ashley) Gowery, Heather (Brad) Hansen, Heidi (Pat) Magorian, Haley (Lance) Heine; Ashley (John) Tiahrt, Tanner Maxon, Matthew (Kiley) Maxon; Nathan (Ashley) McLaughlin, Kylee (Shane) Lohmeier, Connor (Jayden) McLaughlin; 35 great-grandchildren; three siblings, Larry (JoAnn) Driver, Wynot; Wanda Branson, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Dennis (Jan) Driver, Altoona, Iowa; sister-in-law, Anne Driver; brother-in-law, Roger Schwartz; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harley; a brother, Darrel Driver; a sister, Phyllis Schwartz; brother-in-law, Bill Branson; sister-in-law, Carolyn Driver; and parents-in-law, George and Leota Gowery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Wynot Cemetery Association.