Shirley Ann O'Neal, age 77, passed away January 8, 2013, at her home in Provo, SD.

Shirley was born June 27, 1935, to Harvey and Minnie Gamel at Page, NE. She joined four brothers, Sandy, Pat, Lester, and Ed, three sisters, Etta, Francis, and Irene. Growing up in rural Nebraska gave her the desire and drive to work hard and to care for and protect helpless animals. That is her legacy, caring for animals that were dumped or abandoned. On March 20, 1954, she married Robert Hart in Mills, NE. This union brought her a daughter, Linda. On May 29, 1963, she married Dave O'Neal in Ainsworth, Nebraska.

Despite doctors' orders from an illness in 1963, she cut timber in Nebraska, wrangled sheep, tied wool, lambed out ewes, raised bum lambs, worked on a steel gang for Burlington Northern Railroad, worked for a pig farm in Igloo, and worked in town at numerous cafes. Shirley had her own second hand store which she enjoyed because of all the kids in town she got to know.

Shirley has lived in this area for forty years and I'm sure she will be remembered for her kindness to animals.

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Linda (Robert) Moran of Provo; sisters, Etta VanBuren of Oakland, NE and Irene (Robert) Hanson of Grand Island, NE.

He husband, Dave preceded her in death, also brothers, Sandy Gamel; Lester Gamel; Ed Gamel; Pat Gamel and sister, Francis Ford.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 12, 2013, at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Edgemont with Pastor Thomas Peacock officiating.