Shirley Peard

Shirley Peard, age 90, of Phillips, passed away Friday, March 7, 2025, at Tiffany Square in Grand Island.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 14 at the Phillips Global Methodist Church. Pastor Mahlon Richardson will officiate. Interment will be at the Phillips Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Phillips Global Methodist Church.   Memorials may be made in care of the family to designate at a later date.   Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.
Shirley Ann Peard, the daughter of Raymond and Opal (Mapes) Keller, was born in Doniphan, on May 16, 1934 and passed away in Grand Island, on March 7, 2025 at the age of 90.
She grew up and attended school in the Phillips community and graduated from Phillips High School.
On October 16, 1954 she was united in marriage to Louis J. “Swede” Peard at York. They had two children: Russell and Dixie.   They farmed south of Phillips. Shirley was a homemaker.  Swede passed away on August 29, 2002.
She was a member of the Eagles Club, Platt-Duetsche, Saddle Club, several card clubs and the Phillips United Methodist Church, where she served in many capacities.   She was an active participant in the Phillips community.
Shirley was an instrumental presence in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren offering unwavering love, guidance and wisdom that shaped them into the individuals they are today.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister, Virginia (Cliff) Frymire, brother, Darold Keller, brothers-in-law, Robert Peard and Jerry Huffman.
Those who remain to cherish her memory are her son Russell (Randyce) Peard of Phillips; her daughter Dixie (Steve) Mullaly of Silverthorne, Colorado; 6 grandchildren, Andy (Shannon), Chrissy, and Ben (Sadie) Peard, all of Phillips, Ashlyn, Sean and Curran Mullaly, all of Silverthorne, CO and 6 great-grandchildren, Trevor, Levi, Alayna, Avalynn, Gianna, Maverick Peard, all of Phillips.   She is also survived by sister-in-law, Fern Huffman of Lincoln and several nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.