Obituary for Tawanna Denise Ansley (Burdette)
Tawanna Ansley, 63, of Banner County, passed away at her home Saturday, April 1, 2023. She battled cancer for the last 2 ½ years with all she had. Her funeral service will be held on Friday, April 14 at 12 noon at the Gering Civic Center with Pastor Rick Reisig officiating. Everyone is invited to stay for a luncheon to follow. Interment will be at Gabe Rock Cemetery in Banner County at a later date. Memorials can be made to the Banner County Fire Department or Regional West Hospice. Online condolences may be made by viewing Tawanna’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Family Funeral Home in Scottsbluff is entrusted with arrangements.
Tawanna was born July 3, 1959, in Arlington, Texas to William (Bill) and Johnnie Burdette. A daughter of a military contractor, she moved 13 times in 15 years, with time spent in and around Texas and Tehran, Iran. Her family eventually moved to Wiggins, Colorado, where she met her soul mate, Scott. Tawanna graduated from Wiggins High in May and got married to Scott at Summit Baptist Church in September, both in 1977. The couple resided for several years in Colorado where they welcomed Kyla in 1979 and Gena in 1982. The family moved to Banner County, Nebraska in 1989, where she and Scott lived and ranched together for 34 years.
She embraced ranching and had a huge heart for animals. She was her kids and grandkids biggest fan. She was a t-ball and cheerleading coach. She never missed a chance to watch her family play or perform or support their endeavors until she fell ill.
She was adventurous and loved to take a ‘warm’ vacation from the ranch every fall for over 20 years. She and Scott laid on the beaches all over Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, as well as taking a few cruises. She treated her family to a vacation to Brasil in 2001 and Florida in 2012, as well as taking numerous camping and fishing trips.
She loved working in her backyard flower gardens, reading, and watching football, specifically the Denver Broncos and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Even though she said she never liked cooking, she was one of the best cooks around, especially known for her smoked brisket and huge spreads when branding or working cattle. She loved holidays and any opportunities to have her family all together. She had a contagious laugh and still had a slight southern drawl, even after being a “Northerner” for decades.
She was full of grace and courage. She was a devoted wife, mother, Nana, and friend. The world is a better place because she was here. She will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Scott, her daughters Kyla (Kelly Stricker), and Gena (Chris) Martinez, grandchildren Zachary Ansley (Kylie Lohrer), Molly and Riley Stricker, Jeslyn, Madison, and Alanna Martinez, her mother Johnnie, two brothers, Gaylen and Michael, six sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as two exchange student “adopted” daughters, Nicole (Hamburg, Germany) and Silvia (Belo Horizonte, Brasil) and their families, and her lifelong sister-friend, Kathy Clowers.
She was preceded in death by her father William (Bill), father-in-law Paul, mother-in-law Ethel on Feb. 3, 2023, two brothers-in-law Ron Hansen and Chester (Chet) Ansley, and one niece, Melanie Ansley.
Tawanna was born July 3, 1959, in Arlington, Texas to William (Bill) and Johnnie Burdette. A daughter of a military contractor, she moved 13 times in 15 years, with time spent in and around Texas and Tehran, Iran. Her family eventually moved to Wiggins, Colorado, where she met her soul mate, Scott. Tawanna graduated from Wiggins High in May and got married to Scott at Summit Baptist Church in September, both in 1977. The couple resided for several years in Colorado where they welcomed Kyla in 1979 and Gena in 1982. The family moved to Banner County, Nebraska in 1989, where she and Scott lived and ranched together for 34 years.
She embraced ranching and had a huge heart for animals. She was her kids and grandkids biggest fan. She was a t-ball and cheerleading coach. She never missed a chance to watch her family play or perform or support their endeavors until she fell ill.
She was adventurous and loved to take a ‘warm’ vacation from the ranch every fall for over 20 years. She and Scott laid on the beaches all over Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, as well as taking a few cruises. She treated her family to a vacation to Brasil in 2001 and Florida in 2012, as well as taking numerous camping and fishing trips.
She loved working in her backyard flower gardens, reading, and watching football, specifically the Denver Broncos and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Even though she said she never liked cooking, she was one of the best cooks around, especially known for her smoked brisket and huge spreads when branding or working cattle. She loved holidays and any opportunities to have her family all together. She had a contagious laugh and still had a slight southern drawl, even after being a “Northerner” for decades.
She was full of grace and courage. She was a devoted wife, mother, Nana, and friend. The world is a better place because she was here. She will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Scott, her daughters Kyla (Kelly Stricker), and Gena (Chris) Martinez, grandchildren Zachary Ansley (Kylie Lohrer), Molly and Riley Stricker, Jeslyn, Madison, and Alanna Martinez, her mother Johnnie, two brothers, Gaylen and Michael, six sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as two exchange student “adopted” daughters, Nicole (Hamburg, Germany) and Silvia (Belo Horizonte, Brasil) and their families, and her lifelong sister-friend, Kathy Clowers.
She was preceded in death by her father William (Bill), father-in-law Paul, mother-in-law Ethel on Feb. 3, 2023, two brothers-in-law Ron Hansen and Chester (Chet) Ansley, and one niece, Melanie Ansley.