A. Rowe Shively

Arthur Rowe Shively was born on December 16, 1941, in Wray, CO, to Charlie and Mina Shively. He was the middle child of five. He grew up on the family farm just south of Idalia, CO. He attended school at Idalia and graduated in 1959. Rowe attended CSU, known then as “Aggies,” and graduated in 1963 with a BS in Biological Sciences. After student teaching at Mapleton High School in Denver, he decided farming was the life for him.
On June 23, 1963, he married the love of his life, Judy Dale Whomble, at the South Church in Idalia. Rowe and Judy lived in a Brenner apartment in Idalia for about a year, then moved to their new home south of Beecher Island and farmed and ranched with Judy’s father, Chester Whomble. Rowe and Judy were blessed with four wonderful children: Kevin Rowe born in 1964, Kimberly Daun born in 1967, Keri Dale born in 1969, and Kelly Ray born in 1974.
In 1976, they moved from the ranch to their current home near Idalia. For the next 40 years they farmed and ranched and were involved in the Beecher, Idalia, and Wray communities. Besides his farming and ranching, Rowe served on many committees and was very community minded. He served with the Idalia Lion’s Club, Beecher Island Assoc. Board, Beecher Church Board as Superintendent, ASCS Advisory Committee, Y-W Advisory Board Committee, Yuma County Commissioner, Idalia Centennial Board, Yuma County Sheriff’s Posse, and Flying Farmers.
God called him home on Tuesday, the 15th of March, from his home in Idalia in his favorite chair. He was preceded in death by his father, Charlie Shively, his mother, Mina Stone Shively, and his older brother, Vencil Shively.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Judy Shively, sons Kevin Shively and wife Becky of Beecher Island, and Kel Shively of Seattle, WA; daughters Kim and husband Mark Bowman of Denver, and Keri and husband James Kennedy of Huntsville, AL. Grandchildren: Jessie and husband Tyler Bond of Windsor; Randi Shively of Ft. Collins; Todd Shively of Beecher; Zach Bowman and wife Meagan of Ft. Collins; Austin Bowman of Denver; Jamie Kennedy and fiancé Chris Clayville of Auburn, AL; Justin Kennedy of Huntsville, AL; and Zane Bowman and Jesse Bowman of Denver. Great grandchildren: Devin, Caelie, and Talia Bond of Windsor. He is also survived by his brother, Larry Shively and wife Bev of Burlington; sister Cherlyn Moellenberg of Burlington; sister Loahna and husband Jerry Brenner of Burlington; plus a host of relatives and friends. He is much loved and will be deeply missed.
A Receiving of Family and Friends was held on Sunday, March 20, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home, 427 Adams Street in Wray, Colorado. Funeral Services were held in Beecher Island, Colorado at the Beecher Island Sunday School on Monday, March 21, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. with Dr. Phil Mitchell officiating. Interment will be held in the Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado. Memorials may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Rocky Mountain Chapter, 720 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 500 S, Denver, Colorado 80246. Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.