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Shirley Cook Rogers

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Shirley passed away on October 22, after living a full and accomplished life. She valiantly battled Alzheimer’s disease for the last several years. Born December 1, 1929, in Camas, WA, to Jacob and Patricia Cook, they moved to Vancouver, Washington in 1938, where she graduated high school and attended a semester at Clark Community College.

Following a brief stint of modeling, Shirley married Roger Plooster and settled in Bellflower, CA. In August of 1950, they moved to Crawford, NE, where they worked in the family grocery business for the next 23 years. Shirley was devoted to her family and community. It was during her time in Nebraska that she pursued her love of art. After enrolling in a correspondence course, she became an accomplished artist and many of her paintings received national awards. The ceiling tiles she hand-painted for the Crawford community center are still in place today.

After leaving Nebraska, she spent 9 years in Denver, CO working as a Realtor before making Sun City, AZ her permanent home. She continued a successful real estate career here, belonged to the Palo Verde Art Club and enjoyed her friends in the Nebraska club. Shirley married Charles Rogers in 1995 and the two of them spent many happy years working real estate together until his death in 2005.

Shirley felt most at home at the beach and the ocean filled her soul. She loved to read and easily found great adventure where she least expected it.

Shirley is fondly remembered and survived by her three children and their families: daughter Shari Byerly and Jay and their children, Bob and Tonia Byerly, Brian and Sloane Byerly and Holli and Conrad Eskelinen. Son Roger and Juli Plooster and their children, Matt and Natasha Plooster and Greg Plooster. Son Rick Plooster and his children, Chris and Amber Plooster, Schuyler Plooster and Corey and Kareena Plooster. She is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren.

An interment service will be held November 11, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. at American Lutheran Church, 17200 N. Del Webb Blvd., Sun City, AZ 85373.