Shirley Anne Russell, 84, of Perry went to Heaven on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, at the Mercy One Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Shirley Anne was born in Tecumseh, Nebraska, on Dec. 4, 1939, to Harold Marshall Dawdy and Sarah Alcy/Elsie (Applegate) Dawdy.
She spent her childhood in Bern, Kansas, and graduated from Bern High School.
She met the love of her life, LaVerne Keith Russell, and the two were married on Dec. 22, 1957. LaVerne’s favorite thing to say about Shirley Anne was that she was “my woman, my woman, my wife.”
Shirley Anne was a dedicated homemaker who raised four children alongside her husband, and she always made sure her children were well loved and cared for.
She also worked part-time for a variety of places, including Friendly Toys, the Des Moines Register in Perry and as a salesperson for Avon.
Shirley Anne was most known for her talents as a singer and songwriter, and she even recorded two CDs called “Songbird I” and “Songbird II.” Shirley Anne loved sharing her music with others, and she would often visit various nursing homes around Perry and sing for the residents.
In her free time, she enjoyed playing games, doing crafts, watching old Western movies and collecting things.
Shirley Anne was also a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church in Perry. In her own words, she spent all her years loving and believing in God. More important than that, she knew God believed in and loved her.
She also believed that the best parts of life are the little ones all added up together.
Shirley Anne was a forgiving and loving woman. May her memory stay within your heart and encourage you along life’s way.
A funeral ceremony for Shirley Anne will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 at the First United Methodist Church in Perry, with the family receiving visitors an hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at the Dallas Township Cemetery in rural Dawson, Iowa.
Shirley Anne was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, LaVerne; her brothers, Robert Dawdy and Richard (Julia) Dawdy; and her son-in-law, Kenny Lynch.
Those left to cherish Shirley’s memory are her four children, Shelly Russell of Fort Dodge, Sherry Lynch of Des Moines, Sarah (Richard) Gelbowitz of Perry and Michael Russell of Fort Dodge; as well as eight grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family for a future designation. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.
