Shirley Ann Roewe

Shirley Ann (Gallant) Roewe died surrounded by her family on January 27, 2025. She was born September 2, 1933, in South Shaftsbury, Vermont, the daughter of Prosper and Irene (Daniels) Gallant.

Shirley graduated from North Bennington High School in 1951. After high school she went to Schenectady, New York with a friend to work at GE for a year. The following year she attended Becker Junior College, where she met Henry Roewe, a visiting Coast Guardsman who was stationed nearby. She earned a degree in bookkeeping and then worked at Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, until she married Henry on December 29, 1955, in North Bennington, Vermont, and moved to Windthorst, Texas. There she kept the books for the Roewe/Exxon service station and was a substitute teacher. They lived in Windthorst for 14 years and then moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1969. They bought a home close to Our Ladyʼs Cathedral and John Carroll School on

N.W. 32nd Street, where they lived for 35 years before moving to Woodlawn Park, Oklahoma. Shirley worked at Northwest Eye Physicians in Oklahoma City from 1970 to 1980. then left to work alongside Henry at “Henryʼs”, their convenience store in the Oklahoma City downtown concourse. They retired in 2000.

Shirley was very active in her church and community. She joined The Catholic Daughters of the Americas in Windthorst and continued her membership in Oklahoma, serving as the State Regent from 1983 to 1984. In 2005 she was named Woman of Achievement by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. She also volunteered with P.T.O., Birthright, and Girl Scout cookie sales. In her later years she helped count the church collections and gave rides to her friends to church events and Bingo.

Shirley and Henry were married 50 years, a great example of a true and lasting love to her children and grandchildren. They spent years working together at Henryʼs, traveling, and raising a family. They visited family in Ohio, Minnesota, North Dakota, Texas, and Vermont. She also traveled to Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, numerous Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughter conventions in cities all over the country, and she enjoyed cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Panama Canal.

Mom loved the noise and activity of big family gatherings on Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, birthdays, game nights and just having company at her home. Grandkids, especially babies, were welcome at all times. Family came first. We could not have asked for a better Mom, she was always there for us, ready to encourage, support, celebrate and especially help us in times of need. In addition to family, she enjoyed reading, puzzles, Scrabble, flower gardens, and watching birds. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Shirley is survived by her three daughters, Monica Wenthold (Matt), Susan Long (David), Nancy Klabo (Steve), her son Mike Roewe (Barbara), daughters-in-law Melani Roewe and Teresa Warner, twelve grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren with one more on the way. She is also survived by her brother Richard Gallant as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Henry, her sons, David and Paul Roewe, son-in-law, Scott Lively, her sister, Ruth, and brothers, Raymond, Gerald, and John.

Memorial donations can be made to The Catholic Daughters of the Americas or Our Ladyʼs Cathedral. 

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas or Our Lady’s Cathedral.