Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Shirley Jane Mead, 87, passed away on July 19, 2023 at the Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

Shirley was born on August 11, 1935, in Billings, Montana, to Lincoln Abraham and Merle Alice (Miller) McCann. At five years old, the family moved from Billings to Hysham, Montana, where Shirley's father worked at Midland Implement as a mechanic. Upon graduation from Hysham High School, at 17 years old, Shirley moved to Billings where she rented a room in the basement of a house with her future sister-in-law, Deloris (Schmidt) Mead, and two friends who rented other rooms, all sharing the kitchen and dining rooms. Shirley and one of the friends walked several blocks to downtown Billings and worked as secretaries for two attorneys.

When Shirley's brother Jim graduated high school in Hysham, Shirley's parents and brother moved to Worland where her father bought the Conoco gas station at the location of the current Subway sandwich shop. Jim and Shirley's mother helped run the service station. Shortly after her family moved to Worland, Shirley eloped to Bozeman with Marvin Lee Mead, on November 22, 1954.

Shirley and Marv lived in Seattle for about a year until November of 1955 when Marv and Shirley moved to Worland together with Marv's father and mother, and Marv's two brothers and wives when they opened the John Deere family business as Mead & Sons, Inc. Shirley often did the books for the family business, worked as a legal secretary for Harold Joffe prior to his appointment as a District Court Judge, and for attorney Floyd Gorrell while trying to raise four unruly children.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; loving husband; brother, Jim McCann; son, Michael and grandson, Daniel.

She is survived by her children, Ronald Mead (Kristie Mead), Richard (Stephanie) Mead and Terri Mead (Dan Miller) all of Worland, Wyoming; grandchildren: Levi (Trisha) Mead, Reanna (Aaron) Bratholt, Nichole (Myron) Chatwin, Spencer Mead, Jessica (Justin) Borah, Eli (Suzanne) Klimek, Kate (Jeff) Norberg and 26 great-grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place and a private burial will be held at the Mead family cabin at a later time. Memorial donations may be made to Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Please send checks to PO Box 524 Worland, WY 82401. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.