Shirley A. Esquivel was born on July 9, 1929 to Thomas and Alma Long in Havelock, Nebraska.
Shirley married Henry Esquivel on June 28, 1947 in Marysville, Kansas and was married for 66 years. To this union they had three sons, Frankie Lee, Richard Lee and Johnny Ray.
They were involved in midget football, baseball, fishing, and hunting. The boys and Shirley were the dogs in the field when Henry hunted. When the boys were in football the coach told them to eat at the Esquivel’s so they could gain weight. They never knew how many were coming to dinner. The backyard was a playground for many years.
Shirley and Henry took tour trips to Las Vegas for 22 years every March 100+. They quit when the casinos came to Iowa.
Shirley worked in Havelock as a kid at Putts Café, Wolfs Café, Fairmont Ice Cream parlor, Bauer’s Drug at 13th and N St., University Club, Elgin Watch and retired from Goodyear on March 1, 1989.
Shirley would make rum balls for the bowling league Henry was on. She was always cooking and baking cookies and took in a big suitcase to Vegas for next year.
Had a bout with breast cancer from 1975 through 1977. Took chemo pills for 2 years. In 2006 had another bout, did radiation.
She loved to tell jokes and hear them. She drove people crazy with her laugh. Never met a stranger, always talking to anyone and everyone. She loved to tap dance and twirl a baton.
Family members include her sons, Frankie (Connie), Richard (Cheri), John (Gloria) Esquivel, all of Lincoln; grandchildren, Alec (Michelle) Esquivel, Albert (Charity) Esquivel, Brian (Shannon) Esquivel, Holly (Paul) Lovely, Pat Bryan, Jenny (Eric) Meints, Amanda Schoonveld; great grandchildren, Isaac Esquivel, Violet, Avery, Eleanor, John and Eva Esquivel, Aubrey and Andrew Esquivel, William and Andrew Lovely, Emily, Grace, Jack Meints, Paxton, Rylan, Treyden, Brynlea and Everlea Schoonveld; brother-in-law, Daniel (Velma) Esquivel, Lincoln. Preceded in death by parents, husband, Henry, brothers, Max, Daryl Sr., Tom Jr. and Ronnie Long.