Wavalee Couse was born on the family farm near Bell Plain, Kansas on Feb 3, 1935 to Clara Beulah (Keen) and Leslie Robert Howell. She died at Community Hospital May 10, 2024 surrounded by her children.
Her family moved during the depression to Brush, Colorado and finally settled in McCook, Nebraska. Wavalee graduated from McCook High School with the Class of 1953. Later that year, she married Roger Kerr in McCook.
In 1958, she graduated from McCook Beauty Academy and worked as a beautician around the community for many years. Wavalee worked at many professions; Sehnert’s Bakery, Hillcrest Nursing Home as kind and caring aide, Community College as a cook, and as a door greeter at Walmart.
In 1959, Wavalee met and married Maurice Couse. They lived on the family farm northeast of McCook and raised five kids there. Wavalee enjoyed crafting, quilting, boating and fishing. She finally started painting in her 80's. On any given sunny day you could find her and Maurice fishing with her treasured lure, a purple wigglewort. She loved camping with her family at area lakes. In the off season, she was her grandchildren's biggest fan and enjoyed their wide array of sporting events. Even in later years, she never missed an online game and was looking forward to the next seasons.
Wavalee was raised in the Church of God in McCook and later joined the Christian Church in Indianola where she taught bible and Sunday school. She then joined the Baptist Church in McCook. She socialized with friends at bible study and water aerobics.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Maurice; brother, Raymond Howell; Sister; Viola Evelyn Haag; brother, Gary E. Howell; brothers-in-law, and a daughter-in-law, Rita Couse.
She is survived by one sister, Bonna Mae Walker of Holdrege; daughters, Deborah Kerr Rogers (Bill) of Bartley and Marlyn Kerr Peters (Rod) Of McCook; sons, Robert Kerr (Tammy) of Mathias, Texas, Scott Couse (Missy) of North Platte, Nebraska, and Ryan Couse of Portage, Wisconsin; 16 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren and extended family, Barb Couse Wilson (Gene), Virgil Couse (Alice); as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services are scheduled 10 AM on Friday morning, May 17, 2024 at Riverview Cemetery in McCook with Pastor Mike Roth providing words of comfort. There will be no visitation as it was Wavalee’s wish not to have a public viewing.
Memorials in Wavalee’s name are suggested to Community HealthCare and Hospice of McCook. Online condolences may be left at herrmannfh.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook.