Our Mom, Shirley Lee Carman, was born July 6, 1935 in Quinter, Kansas. She passed away peacefully December 19, 2020 after a long battle with Dementia and Parkinson's. She was the only child born to R. C. "Jack" Cunningham and Laverne S. Kreigh Cunningham. Mom was raised in Quinter and enjoyed running around with her sidekick; a Cocker Spaniel she named Brownie. She was raised in the Methodist Church and reveled in playing the piano for her church. As a teenager, Mom spent some of her summers with relatives in California and retained many fond memories of those visits. She even earned her postsecondary education in California while staying with family.

On April 24, 1957 she married Frank Carman and soon to follow came quite the brood of children. To be exact there were 6 of us, Steve, Katie, Alan, Jerry, Robbie & Nathan. There were many a time she would start at the top of that list and keep going until she got to the right one, as there was always at least one of us in trouble. Needless to say she was a busy woman with all of us, housework and moving every year or two. Around 1970 we landed in Otis and stayed there until 1976. While in Otis Mom took a job with Marion and Nellie Rine in their warehouse which sold Raleigh products. While raising her kiddos she still managed to sew some of their clothes and teach her daughter to sew also. Mom divorced in 1980.

Mom regularly made car trips to her parents' house in Quinter, leaving a couple of us for a week or so and returning to pick up those two and exchange for two more. During these visits, the kids helped take care of the yard and the house and Mom and Katie would sometimes work on canning with Grandma Laverne. Playing golf with Grandpa Jack was a special treat for the kids as Grandpa was an avid golfer.

By this time her oldest son graduated and our family transitioned to Akron. Mom took an office job with Ed and Mid Peed at Eastern Slope Paint Company. In 1978 there was a fire at the paint company that destroyed it. On June 19, 1978 Mom began another career in the bookkeeping department of, then, Citizens National Bank. After several years she took the drive-thru teller position. That was the position she held until she retired December 31, 2014. Generations of Akronites will fondly remember Mom as the drive-up teller at Citizens National Bank \Farmers State Bank of Akron. Over the years, she had something for everyone who came through the drive-up from Dum Dums Lollipops or candy canes(seasonal) for the children, dog treats, or even a little sassy comeback for those with as much spunk as she had.

Others will remember Mom as an avid Akron Rams fan, sitting in the bleachers cheering on her children and then grandchildren. As a true blue Rams fan, she took great pride watching them all play as they represented Akron.

Mom was also an interested Denver Broncos fan. She was able to attend at least one game with her dear friend\coworker Virginia Cass and her, now deceased, husband Bob Cass. Typically, the game was on while she was working on any number of her fabulous crafts projects.

As most of us know Mom loved shopping, crafting many beautiful things, and attending as many craft fairs as she could to sell her handmade items. During some of those shopping trips we would have to hit the JoAnn's in Greeley when they had a fleece sale, which Miah and Josh ALWAYS looked forward to. As a dear friend recently posted "she was the Queen of tied fleece blankets". She loved making those blankets, giving as gifts and selling at craft fairs, the grocery store (O'Dell's) and sometimes out of the back of her van.

Mom was able to do some traveling, after retirement, going to Alaska to see her sister-in-law, Steamboat Springs to watch the hot air balloons and attend the 3-day festival in the Summer. After Loranda graduated High School Grandma Shirley took her on a 10-day trip through Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Canada and back down through Yellowstone Park where they were able to view some amazing scenery, visit Lake Louise (Canada) and make memories Loranda still raves about.

She was a member of the Red Hat Society, which DID incorporate two of her favorite colors, and Alpha Nu Sorority. She sure enjoyed her time with those ladies and the memories they made. She was a Doe through the Elks Club and spent a couple evenings a week tending bar for them. She enjoyed line dancing, taking classes in the Brush/Fort Morgan area with her daughter. If it happened to be around a dinner hour you would likely find her eating at the Deli in the grocery store (O'Dells) or 5-Star Restaurant. Unless it was fair time, then she frequented the Lions Club booth, sometimes twice a day. Mom always loved and supported the Akron Volunteer Fire Department's annual Breakfast and Beef and Noodle Dinner.

Mom had a great memory always remembering our birthdays and anniversaries, always sending a card for the occasion. Mom loved to cook and bake for her family. Family was very important to her and she was very important to her family.

Mom's surviving family includes Steve, Katie (Doug), grandson Jeremiah (Shannon) great-grands Kellen & Kasen, grandson Joshua (Sarah) great-grands Cassidy, Anna & Houston and granddaughter Hannah, Alan (Debbie) granddaughter Jennie (Dallas) great-grands Bridger, Carson, Landrie and Breckin, grandson TJ great-grands Adalyn & Gavin, grandson Garrett (Haley), granddaughters Cristlyn, Catelyn, Coralyn & Cimberlyn, Jerry, Rob (Katherine) grandson Frank (Marcie), grandson Brian great-grand Timothy, granddaughter Loranda, grandson Duane (Nyce) great- grands Caleb, Wyatt & Wyler, and Nathan (Danica) grandson Brian (Britt) great-grand Von, Alex (Calvin), Lance (Shalena) great-grands Brody, Mariaha & Chase. She was also a wonderful Grandma to Jazmine and Jessie Brown, Rob & Katherine's nieces.

Christmas was Mom's favorite time of year. She would get her house all decked out with lights, trees, decorations, cards, tablecloths, excitement, big smiles, wrapping paper, bows, packages and poinsettias. She always made sure each of us had a poinsettia, either delivered personally or to take with us from our family Christmas. It typically started in October with "what are you doing for Christmas?" I guess it's only fitting that she passed over to her eternal home this time of year to celebrate Jesus' birthday with God. We love you so much and will most definitely miss you Momma!!

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorial gifts be made to the Akron Volunteer Fire Department. DUE TO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ISSUES ON JANUARY 14, 2021 THE SERVICE FOR SHIRLEY CARMAN WILL BE AT THE HEER MORTUARY CHAPEL IN BRUSH AT 1:00 PM.