Shirley Jean O'Donnell

Shirley O'Donnell of Palmer died May 6, 2013.

Shirley was born at home on the family farm in Brooks, Wash. She graduated from Oxford High School, Moody Bible Institute and Augustana School of Nursing. Shirley came to Alaska in 1955 as a Missionary Nurse on the Kuskokwim River.

In 1962 she married Harry James "Bud" O'Donnell. They lived in Sleetmute and McGrath before buying Delta Air Service in Emmonak in 1971, where they were known as "Cowboy" and "Mrs. Cowboy." They lived there until they retired to Big Lake in 1980. They moved to Homer in the late 1980s and Shirley moved back to the Matanuska Valley in the early 1990s after her husband passed away.

She leaves behind a legacy of love in her children; Monna Lee Carter and her husband Larry Carter, Helen Hatfield, Sharon (Joy) Vanderpool, Darliss O'Donnell, Sandra Fleckenstein and husband Dan Fleckenstein, Sheila (Jane) Armstrong and husband Keith Armstrong Jr., Harry James "Bud" O'Donnell and Tanya Larson, many grandchildren and great grandchildren as well and her sister Bernice York and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Harry James "Bud" (Cowboy) O'Donnell; sister, Kathleen G. Marsceau; and brother, William C. Osborn.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to one of the following:

• World Venture, 1501 W Mineral Ave., Littleton, CO 80120-5612.

• Rwanda Special Projects Acct. No. 6402900, or online at worldventure.com.

Africa Inland Missions, P.O. Box 3611, Peachtree City, GA 30269-7611 "For the work of Ron & Donna Pontier or Dave & Jeannie Morse."

A memorial service is at 5 p.m., May 11 at Wasilla Bible Church, 1651 Nicola Ave, with a reception immediately following the service.