Sheila Ness

SHEILA NESS

Cedar Rapids

Sheila Kay (Frederick) Ness, 60, died Feb. 28, 2014, after 17 plus years fighting cancer. The last weeks of her life were spent under helpful constant care at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy located in Hiawatha.

Sheila was born April 22, 1953, in Los Angeles County Medical Center. She grew up attending school from first grade through college in Long Beach, Calif., and graduated from California State University – Long Beach in 1977, with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics. She then made a decision to attend graduate school in her mother's home state of South Dakota. Sheila earned her Master of Science degree in 1980 from South Dakota State University, specializing in textiles.

Sheila met Steven Ness at SDSU in 1981 and married him in Long Beach, Calif., on Oct. 9, 1982. The couple made their home in Long Beach the following 10-plus years.

Sheila worked as a sales representative for the May Co. for a few years and then switched to teaching fashion design and history at the well respected Brooks College of Fashion and Design. During her tenure at Brooks she was selected by the administrators to chaperone a large group of students on a summer tour of France, Italy and England. During those years in Long Beach Sheila and Steven enjoyed Christmas vacations hiking in Death Valley and often visiting her favorite park in the world, Disneyland.

Sheila enjoyed a close relationship with her parents and two older brothers.

In 1993, the couple moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She worked as a sales representative for Earl May Garden Center for several years and met many new friends. Sheila was also able to develop close relationships with in-laws in Illinois, Minnesota and South Dakota.

Sheila was a very active member of the Cedar Rapids Welcome Wagon Association as well as an informal group of ladies who referred to themselves as The Red Hats Club.

With the loss of their beloved Collie (Shadow) Sheila volunteered to rescue a Bedlington Terrier which she named Ghost. Very soon after adding Ghost to the family Sheila be-came enamored with dog shows and then began showing Ghost. Soon a second dog (Spooky) joined the family. Before long Sheila was showing them in several cities across the U.S. from New York, N.Y. (Westminster) to Long Beach, Calif. (AKC Eukanuba National Championship). She became a very active member of the Bedlington Terrier Club of America as well as the Cedar Rapids Kennel Club. By 2005, she was well known in the U.S. Show Dog and Breeder world. Of the 10 Bedlington Terriers she bred and showed, a total of six became AKC champions with one dog winning the prestigious Montgomery County Terrier Specialty in 2007 and the best of opposite sex at Westminster in 2010.

Sheila maintained a very active life right up until November 2013. To give one an idea of Sheila's strength of will, two years ago her oncology doctor stated, "I (the doctor) do not know how you (Sheila) have survived this long let alone how you're still walking."

Sheila was preceded in death by her father, Francis (Fred) Frederick; and mother, Murleen (Beutler) Frederick.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband of 31 years, Steven Ness; her brothers, Vance Frederick (Kimberlie) of Long Beach, Calif., and Duane Frederick (Aase) of Yreka, Calif.; as well her niece, Brittanie (Frederick) Baker; and nephews, Brian Frederick and Aaron Frederick.

Visitation will be March 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Funeral will be 3 p.m. March 12 at the chapel.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials to be sent to The Salvation Army.

Online condolences may be left at www.cedar memorial.com under "Obituaries."