Roxie Croghan

Broken Bow, NE- Roxie Croghan, age 88 of Broken Bow, died Thursday May 15, 2014 at the Golden Living Center in Broken Bow. Funeral services will be held on Saturday May 24, 2014 at 10:30 AM in Govier Bros. Mortuary in Broken Bow with Rev. Glen Emert officiating. Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery with Govier Bros. Mortuary of Broken Bow in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be held on Friday May 23, 2014, 8 AM to 8 PM with the family greeting friends 5 PM to 6 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary. Memorials have been established to the Nebraska Children’s Home. Roxie Eileen Thornton was born August 31, 1925 to Frank G. & Vivian A. (Myers) Thornton of Westerville, NE at the Carrothers Hospital in Broken Bow, NE. She attended grade schools at New Hope and District 147 south of Broken Bow, NE. She attended Broken Bow High School and graduated in 1943. She was married on October 31, 1945 to Verdon J. “Swede” Croghan at Arnold, NE where they resided for two years. They moved to Broken Bow in 1948 and farmed in the Broken Bow, NE area. They were welcomed by an adoption in 1953 to Raleigh Jay. In Roxie’s early days, her family lived in a two room house south of Broken Bow. That was the days of dances in homes. Roxie learned to dance going around two mower wheels in her front yard. She and Swede loved to dance. They had many friends they danced with during their day. Her favorite story that she told many times was that Swede did not know how to waltz. Roxie taught him how to waltz and they won a waltz contest all in one night. For 14 years she and Swede served as DHIA (Dairy Herd Improvement Association) Supervisors. She would go to the local dairy farms and take milk samples in the evening and in the morning. She then took those samples to Cozad, NE to be tested. Roxie continued to do this even after Swede’s health failed. She served Custer County as an AVON representative for 53 years. She kept up with the changes over that time and attended meetings that were beneficial for her, but all the ladies depended on her for help. She was the “Mother Hen” for 16 AVON representatives at one time. She won many honors for her sales over the years. The gifts in her home were the result of her hard work and dedication to AVON. She was also an active volunteer and had a passion for the Broken Bow High School Alumni Association for several years. She served on the Alumni Committee and later as an advisor. Her classmates of 1943 were close and had many meals together at the drop of a hat. We all enjoyed Roxie’s flowers in her yard. She had a very green thumb. Everything bloomed under her care. She even had flowers in the cracks of her sidewalk. Her home had many plants and blooming flowers. Her African Violets were kept for generations. She is survived by her son, Raleigh Jay Croghan of Tombstone, AZ. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Nicole & Brian Schlund, John Croghan, & Holly Arnold, great grandchildren: McKenzie Schlund, Katelynn Schlund, Dusty Schlund, Noah Croghan, and Bella Croghan Great, great grandson: Eli Schlund. Roxie is also survived by her Sister, Dona Russell, sisters in law: Shirley Thornton, Mary Hardin, Rose Croghan, & Betty Croghan. Also survived by brothers in law: Dee Croghan, Jim Croghan, and Paul “Bub” Croghan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Verdon “Swede” Croghan, brother, Duane Thornton, brothers in law: Darrold Croghan, Leonard Croghan, Don Hardin and Don Russell. She was also preceded in death by sister in law, Fern Russell.