Shirley Hamilton

Shirley Hamilton, the daughter of Leslie and Olive (Ressler) Allen, was born May 13, 1943 in Carroll, Iowa and left this life January 3, 2019 at her rural home near Churdan, Iowa. She lived her life to the age of 75 years, 7 months and 20 days.

Shirley attended and graduated from Churdan High School in 1961 and later attended Burnell College of Cosmetology in Fort Dodge. On August 27, 1961 Shirley Kay Allen was married to Vernon Hamilton at the Presbyterian Church in Churdan, Iowa. Three daughters were born to this union. After their marriage, Vern and Shirley made their home in Dana and Shirley worked as a beautician and raised her family. Shirley was a 4-H leader of the Dana Dainty Damsels. In 1980, after the death of Shirley’s dad, the family moved to the family farm near Churdan. In the early ‘80s, Shirley retired as a beautician and went to work at the Churdan Library, first as children’s director and later as overall director, and retired in 2005. Shirley was proud of her Irish heritage and traveled to Ireland to visit her roots.

Shirley was a member of the Churdan and then Paton Presbyterian Church and was church secretary and treasurer in Paton. Shirley was active in the Adaza Club, GA Club and United Presbyterian Women. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, gardening and working in her flower beds. She especially enjoyed having coffee and visiting with her friends.

Shirley is survived by her three daughters: Lesla (Mark) White of Bondurant, Dana (Basil) Coale of Gainesville, Virginia and Eugenia (Jeff) Hartsook of Madrid, Iowa; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Vernon in 2015; a sister, June Marie Allen; two other siblings in infancy and an infant grandson, Joseph Allen Coale.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 7, 2019 at First Presbyterian Church in Paton with Rev. Daniel Emmert and Rev. Roger Todd officiating. Burial was made in the Evergreen Township Cemetery near Lohrville. Musical selections “When the Roll is called Up Yonder” and “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” were sung by Rochelle Guess and Renaye Lindgren. Serving as casket bearers were Marcus Vogel, Denny Tilley, Charlie Paup, Ron Toliver, Mark Beckley, Craig Geottsch and Jennie Beckley.

Memorials are suggested to the Churdan Library.

Brown Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.