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Cecelia Bums Wagoner |
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| Cecelia Burns Wagoner was born March 10, 1913
to John C. and Lena (Moffitt) Burns in Yuma County Colorado. Being the oldest of four children, she was the one who drove the horse and buggy to school. The first school she attended was a "Soddy." One of her favorite childhood memories included the Sundays her family spent at her grandparents home (Timothy and Martha Burns). The grandparents never knew who would be there but there was room around the table for the family for Sunday dinner. This was a tradition that Mother continued throughout her life. She looked forward to fixing Sunday breakfasts and having her family together for a few hours. She graduated from Wray CO. High School in 1930. She continued her education by coming to Grand Island to attended the Grand Island Business College. To pay for her education she worked at Wolbachs Department Store. After finishing school to be a bookkeeper she continued at Wolbachs. She worked for Homeowners Loan Corp and Area Engineers. She typed some of the first vouchers for the Cornhusker Ordinance Plant. During WW II she was a supervisor of supplies at the Grand Island Air Base. She worked at the Cornhusker Ordnance Plant during the Korean War. For her first birthday away from home she went to Wood River to spend the weekend with her grandmother, Hattie & John Steiger. She and her friend went to Lenten Services on Friday night and caught the eye of several of WR fellows. Tom Wagoner & Owen Knight followed the girls up town and that is how their romance began. She married Thomas J. Wagoner of Wood River on June 18, 1934 at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Seven children were born to this union. They raised their family on the family farm. She was an active member of St. Mary's Church. For over 40 years she was chairman of the Funeral Dinners. She enjoyed preparing for the family gettogethers, gardening, cooking, handwork and Bridge. She enjoyed time spent with her children and grandchildren. She is survived by five children, Mary Frances and Richard Moffett of Cairo, Thomas A. Wagoner and Adele Swihart of Grand Island, Judy Wagoner of Grand Island, Dennis and Jane Wagoner & Daniel and Marlene Wagoner of Wood River, 11 grandchildren and four great grand daughters, Major Thomas A. and Sue Wagoner & Audrey of Camp Pendleton CA, Darren & Kristen Wagoner Mallori, Brooklynn & Julia of Council Bluffs IA., Nicolette Wagoner of New York City, N,Y., Kathryn Wagoner of Chicago IL., Tisha Wagoner, Kearney, First Lt Shawn Wagoner, Fort Hood TX, Sarah Emery Fort Collins, CO., Deanna Wagoner Lawrence KS., Sonya Wagoner Wayne NE, Simon Wagoner and Tyson Wagoner of Wood River, NE. She is also survived by her brother, Leo Burns of St. Joseph Missouri, and a sister, Cathlyn Bundy of Olney Illinois. She was proceeded in death by her spouse of 66 years, Thomas, two infant sons, a grandson, Patrick and a sister, Vivian Linker. |
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