Cecelia Bums Wagoner
March 10, 1913 - March 22, 2002
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.