Shirley Nell (Cox) Henthorn, 93
Shirley Nell (Cox) Henthorn passed to eternal rest September 1, 2024, at the age of 93. She was the 7th of 8 children born to Nettie (Francis) and Elmer Cox on May 26, 1931, in Grant, NE.
She was born with severe myopia and got her first pair of glasses at the age of 5. Being able to see made her curious about the world around her, which continued throughout her life.
She attended Perkins County schools, graduating from Perkins County High School in 1949.
She married Grant native Jack Henthorn on December 28, 1951. His 30 year Air Force career took them to assignments in Tucson AZ, Wichita Falls TX, Plattsburgh NY, Bermuda, Denver CO, Omaha NE, Labrador, Guam and San Antonio TX.
Highlights from these assignments included being in the Adirondacks (Plattsburgh); proximity to Elbow Beach, seeing ships, boats, whales and a shark and returning to New York City on the Ocean Monarch (Bermuda); 150”-210” of snow each year, long Arctic nights, seeing the Northern Lights, traveling to the Hudson Bay store in Happy Valley and breathtaking scenery (Labrador); earthquakes, major damage from Typhoon Pamela, seeing the Vietnam airlift (Guam).
And then there is the story of Cozad NE (Omaha)!
Jack and Shirley retired to San Antonio in 1976. For a short time, they both worked for Phil Sheridan Concessions at the San Antonio Zoo. She sold tickets to the Sky Ride, Brackenridge Eagle Train and Carousel.
She worked as a proofreader at Clarke American for many years.
She was active in the San Antonio Quilt Guild, Rockport Quilt Retreat group, and knitting blankets and chemo caps for children. She was a charter member of the St. Rose of Lima Knights of Columbus Columbiettes.
She loved to cook and bake (runzas, yeast rolls, cinnamon rolls, chocolate sheet cake).
She is preceded in death by Jack, her husband of 54 years; her parents, brothers Burdette and Eugene, and her sisters Kathryn Ivers, Dorothy Newth and Lorelei Cox.
She is survived by her children Christopher, Bradley, Robin (Valerie), Shelley Kendall (Rick) and Kelley Morrison (Tim). She is also survived by her grandchildren Brett (Erik) Nuenhoffer, Adam and Brian Henthorn, Cameron, Emily, Frances and Dylan Kendall. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Cataleya, Riley, Xander and Ariana and, coming soon, Baby Nuenhoffer.
She is survived by her sister Jane Nyberg and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visits home to Grant always meant spending time at the Perkins County Senior Center. It was her wish that memorials be directed there: Perkins County Senior Center, 420 Central Ave, PO Box 314, Grant NE 69140.