Cecelia R. (McDaniel) Shaw

Cecelia Rae McDaniel was born July 24, 1932 to Vernon and Gladyce McDaniel at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth, NE.  Cecelia passed from this earth into her Savior’s loving arms at the age of 91 on May 13, 2024 at the Arbor Care Center in O’Neill, NE, where she had resided since August of 2020.

Cecelia spent her elementary years in Cherry and Brown County, Nebraska. The family moved several times, and she loved to talk about the different homes they lived in.  The Granny House, the Tin House and a short stint in a tent were fond memories. She was involved in 4-H and was even able to accompany some of her projects chosen to go to the State Fair in Omaha. She graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1949 at the age of 16. She had begun taking courses in high school to be a teacher and continued to study for the next two summers at Chadron State College. Cecelia taught school for five years, saving her money to buy a car. During her early teen years, she gave her life to Christ.

On June 18, 1954 she married Paul Robert Shaw and began her adventure as a wife and mother. To this union were born four sons and one daughter: Jonathan, Benjamin, Daniel, Glen and Doreen. During their married life, the couple moved four times, with the last move to the family farm north of Johnstown, which they purchased after the death of Paul’s father.

Cecelia was a very supportive farm wife, helping run the family dairy and keeping the books for the farm. She drove the “school bus” for several years to get her kids and other kids on the route to and from Johnstown Grade School. In addition to her farm chores, she kept a large garden each year, canning lots of vegetables and wild fruits. She knew how to stretch food supplies and keep her family fed. She sewed a lot of the boys’ shirts, and her and her daughter’s wardrobes. She loved art and writing poetry. She won a poetry contest and could have gone to Las Vegas but chose not to. Cecelia made many afghans over the years, often for new babies in the church and her own grandchildren. Her dream was to make each one a special afghan, and even finished one in the nursing home. She was very sad when her hands would not allow her to continue this beloved hobby. Another of her hobbies was decorating cakes, which she taught herself to do. The first cake she decorated was for her sister-in-law Ruth’s wedding.   She always talked about using a toothpaste tube to decorate that cake.

Cecelia was very active in her church as a Sunday School teacher, NWMS President, and many other roles throughout the years.

After Paul’s death in 1991, she sold the dairy cows and continued to live on the farm.  In 1995, she moved to a small house she purchased in Ainsworth. She worked for some time at Campbell’s Hardware Store and as a lunch lady at the Ainsworth Public Schools. She volunteered with the Brown County Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store and was active in the After 5 Club. She enjoyed visiting her children and was able to go on many trips over the years to South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and South Dakota to name a few. Many National Parks were visited using her Golden Age Passport.

Cecelia loved her children, grandchildren and great children and nothing made her happier than to spend time with them. She was so proud of each one’s accomplishments in life. She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, grandmother and friend.

Cecelia was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; her parent’s Vernon and Gladyce; infant brother David; infant granddaughter Rebecca and granddaughter Shaina.  She is survived by sons: Jon (Julie) Shaw of Haxtun, CO, Ben (Danita) Shaw of Bassett, NE, Dan (Dawn) Shaw of Independence, KS, Glen (Julie) Shaw of Shawnee, KS and daughter Doreen Ball, Overland Park, KS; brothers: Dean McDaniel of Johnstown, NE and Leland McDaniel of Ainsworth, NE; sisters: Gayle Soles of Fairfax, SD; Grace King of Bellevue, NE; Verna Huff of Pratt, KS and Mary Nickerson of Sutherland, NE; brother-in-law, John Shaw of McPherson, KS and sister-in-law Evelyn Shaw of Greenville, IL; eleven grandchildren: Leah (Justin) Hagan; Melissa (Jack)Simmons; Keith Shaw; Ethan Shaw; Dustin (Oakley) Shaw; Storm (Kelly Shaw); Joshua Ball; Brooklyn (Boone) Pruter; Braden Shaw; Riley Shaw; Drake Shaw and seven great-grandchildren: Mason, Collin, Aiden, and Easton Hagan; Elizabeth and Jonny Simmons and Adolin Shaw; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:28-30

Funeral Services were held Monday, May 20, 2024 at the Church of the Nazarene in Ainsworth, officiated by Pastors Russell Thayer and Jonathan Shaw.  Congregational hymns “Amazing Grace”, “It Is Well With My Soul” and “Blessed Assurance” were led by Danny Bennett and accompanied by Kathy Bennett.  Casket Bearers were Ethan Shaw, Keith Shaw, Joshua Ball, Dustin Shaw, Storm Shaw, Drake Shaw and Braden Shaw. Honorary bearers were All of Cecelia’s other grandchildren and great-grandchildren.   Interment followed in the Ainsworth Cemetery.  Memorials were suggested to the Nazarene Church, Brown County Hospital Auxiliary or to the family in Cecelia’s name.  Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth was in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com