Shirley A. Barto

A funeral service for Shirley A. Barto will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Jean Clayton officiating. Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

Shirley Ann Barto, 86 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away, on January 23, 2025, at Holdrege Memorial Homes in Holdrege. Shirley was born in Parlett, Ohio on September 13, 1938, the fourth of twelve children, born to John and Flossie (Wilson) Willis. She received her education from Bloomingdale Public School in Bloomingdale, Ohio, and graduated with the class of 1959.

When Shirley was 16 years old she started working as a Certified Nursing Assistant at a nursing home in Smithfield, Ohio. In 1974, the family moved to Wilcox, Nebraska and she started working at Holdrege Memorial Homes as a CNA and worked there until her retirement in 2006. In the early 1990's the couple moved to Holdrege.

On September 16, 1960, Shirley Willis was united in marriage to Robert Allen Barto in Piney Fork, Ohio, and to this union, five sons were born: Robert, James, Joseph, Timothy, and Douglas.

Shirley enjoyed cats, reading, watching TV, cooking, gardening, putting together picture puzzles, and doing word puzzles. She did a lot of sewing and made many quilts, throw blankets, and dresses.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 2005; two sons: Joseph Barto; and Douglas Barto; three brothers: Richard Willis; Perry Willis; and Robert Willis; six sisters: Arbutus "Boots" Reiss; Sandra Willis; Mary Elizabeth Willis; Ethel Elaine Willis; Audrey Porter and her husband Harry; Josephine Carpenter and her husband, John; as well as nieces and nephews.

Shirley is survived by three sons: Robert Barto and his wife, Bobbie of Elm Creek, Nebraska; James Barto of Wilcox, Nebraska; and Timothy Barto and his wife, Cindy of Kearney, Nebraska; five grandchildren: Tabitha Burns and her husband, Ryan of Norton, Kansas; Jesse Barto and his wife, Barbara of Hastings, Nebraska; Justin Barto and his wife, Ashley of Holdrege; Emilee and Alexander Barto both of Kearney; four great-grandchildren: Dominick, Alexander, and Veronica Martindale; Harvey Barto; one brother, John Willis of Wellington, Kansas; sisters: Kathleen Carpenter and her husband, William of Holdrege; and a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

Memorials in Shirley's honor are suggested to the family for a later designation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.