Shirley Mae (Laflin) Higgins, passed away at her home in Tecumseh, Nebraska, Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at the age of 82 years, 9 months and 1 day. She was born to Grant and Nancy Mae (Carel) Laflin on May 24, 1942 in Beatrice, Nebraska.  Shirley attended a rural elementary country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Lewiston High School.  

She was united in marriage to Paul Higgins on June 1, 1959. They were later divorced.  To this union three children were born.  She later met her longtime partner of 39 years, John Lambert.  They were together until his unexpected passing in 2020, residing in Crab Orchard, Nebraska.  Shirley's health brought her back to Tecumseh, to be closer to family in case of need, where she loved her Tecumseh Manor neighbors and town gossip until her passing.

Shirley worked several years for Campbell's Soup Company.  Not long after her "retirement" she began working in the Pawn Shop in Beatrice, Nebraska for Fred Weber, Jr. Shirley was a longtime member of the Crab Orchard American Legion Auxiliary #336.  She served on the village board of Crab Orchard, serving as town mayor for some time.  Shirley had a love for bowling and enjoyed doing it with friends along the way, starting in the 1970's and continued for several years traveling to different tournaments, until she hung up her hobby.  If you stopped to see her, you could find her drinking her coffee and doing word searches.  If Shirley wasn't home, she most likely was out gambling.  She enjoyed all the time she spent with family, especially her grandkids.  She always loved to joke around and had a smile on her face.  But Shirley also was a stubborn lady that meant business when it came down to it. 

She is survived by her sons Arnie Higgins of Lincoln and Lonnie Higgins and significant other Heather of Crab Orchard, daughter Theresa (Higgins) Weber and significant other Ray of Tecumseh, 6 grandchildren, Mandy (Higgins) Hinchey and Mikayla Higgins, James and Paige Higgins and Caty and Emme Weber, 2 great-grandchildren, Jackson and Colt Hinchey, brother Jim Laflin and wife Judy of Rockport, MO, sisters, Helen McKenzie of Avoca, Diane Richardson and husband Jim of Adams, Jeannie Rogman and husband Wayne of Lincoln and Deb Belding and husband Mike of Beatrice, sister-in law Marjorie Laflin of Crab Orchard, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, ex-husband Paul Higgins, lifelong partner John Lambert, brothers Hugh and Harvey Laflin, sister Linda Kay and brother-in-law Clyde.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 28, 2025 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska with Chaplain Sharon Schuster officiating.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, February 27, 2025 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska.

Memorials may go to the family’s choice.

Inurnment will be in the Crab Orchard Cemetery, Crab Orchard, Nebraska.