Shirley Kay Harvey, 90, of Perry passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Eden Acres Campus of Perry Lutheran Homes in Perry, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 17 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Perry. Visitation will take place prior to the service, from 9-10:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, Iowa.
Shirley was born on June 15, 1934, in Winterset, Iowa, the daughter of Beatrice (Gettys) Gripp and Bryon “Kenneth” Gripp.
She was baptized at four months old at St. Charles Methodist Church and later confirmed in 1948 at the Bayard Methodist Church.
Her early education began in Ottumwa, and in 1942 she transferred to Bayard Consolidated School, where she later graduated from high school. Shirley went on to pursue nursing, earning her Registered Nurse degree from the Iowa Methodist School of Nursing at Drake University.
On Sept. 9, 1956, Shirley was united in marriage to Larry Lee Harvey at the Bayard Methodist Church. Together, they welcomed two daughters, Debra and Karen.
In 1958 Shirley became a member of the Perry Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. Over the years, she served as Worthy Matron three times and held various other offices. She also served as Mother Advisor to the Rainbow Chapter for Girls in Perry for many years.
Shirley devoted her professional life to nursing. She worked fresh out of nursing school as a staff nurse and relief night supervisor at Blank Children’s Hospital from 1955 to 1956. She continued her career at the Dallas County Hospital (DCH) in Perry from 1956 until her well-earned retirement in 1998 after 42 years of service. Shirley served many roles at DCH, including day supervisor, night relief supervisor and Director of Quality Improvement and Infection Control.
Outside of her work, Shirley enjoyed many hobbies, including cross-stitch, embroidery, reading, traveling and shopping. She was a dedicated Hallmark collector.
Her greatest joy came from spending time with her family, grandchildren and eventually great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her daughters, Karen (Mark) Einck of Perry and Debra (Doug) Stream of Omaha, Nebraska; her grandchildren, Melodie (Russ) Terhaar, Jennie (Travis) Winger, Ben (Jodi) Einck, Nate Knight and Emily (Garret) Grimm; great-grandchildren, E. J. Knight, Max Terhaar, Heidi (Tyler) Richardson, Callie Winger, Titus Winger, Jadie Winger, John Einck, Will Einck, Andi Einck, Henry Einck, Lucy Grimm, Annie Grimm and Charlie Grimm; and great-great-grandchildren, Opal Knight and Zebulon Richardson; her brother, Kenneth Gripp of Springfield, Oregon; along with a few cousins; extended family members; dear friends; and all of her special nursing friends from DCH.
Shirley was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Larry Harvey; and her parents.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Spring Valley Activity Department and the Perry Food Pantry. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.
