Shirley Ann Downs

Shirley Ann (Vondra) Downs passed away on Monday, February 10, 2014 at Wyoming Medical Center.

Shirley was born April 9, 1936 in Casper, Wyoming.

She was raised on a ranch south of Lusk, Wyoming. She attended a country school, Prairie Center, through the tenth grade and then the eleventh and twelfth grade at Lusk High School. She moved to Casper where she met and married Robert E. Downs on December 31, 1954 at the First Christian Church in a double wedding with her sister, Betty Durnell. Bob and Shirley had three children; Debra, David, and Doug all three born in Casper, Wyoming. Shirley was a stay at home mom. She enjoyed taking care of her family, raising a garden and canning. Shirley started working in 1973 when her youngest started school. She worked for Continental Insurance as a receptionist for the adjuster. She later went to work at the Gladstone Hotel and the Drawbridge as a waitress until it sold and she went to work at the Goose Egg. In 1991 Shirley spent the summer in Lander helping her son Doug and his wife open a restaurant. In 1999 Shirley and Bob moved to Lander and bought a Malt Shop which they named Mom's Malt Shop. They ran the business until 2004. She then went to work at her son's restaurant as a hostess. She moved back to Casper in 2006 and went to work for 55 Plus as a receptionist, she later worked for Experience Works as a receptionist until 2012 when she retired.

Shirley is survived by her sister, Betty Durnell; her daughter, Debra Downs Kaplan of Casper, Wyoming; her son, David of Bend Oregon; son, Douglas of Lander, Wyoming; three grandchildren, Robert Kaplan and Courtney Kaplan of Casper, Wyoming, and Colbie Downs of Lander, Wyoming.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Downs; her parents, Otto and Molly Vondra; brother, Donald Vondra; and sister, Arlene (Vondra) Clausen.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on March 8, 2014 at the First Christian Church in Casper, Wyoming. A private family burial will precede the services at Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the First Christian Church or a place of your choice in Shirley's name.

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