Della Keel Shifflett

KEEL, SHIFFLETT

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 7/21/2006 at 10:51:51

Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, May 3, 1945

Funeral services were held at the Welch Funeral Home, Sunday at 10:00 a.m. for Mrs. Harry Shifflett who was found dead at her home last Friday evening. It is thought that she died of a stroke. She was 77 years old. Rev. S. R. Overholser was in charge of the services. Burial was made in the Earlham cemetery.

OBITUARY

Della Keel, daughter of John B. and Anna Keel, was born on March 15, 1868, in Bureau county, Illinois. She grew to young womanhood in this community, receiving her education in the rural schools and at Dover Academy, and later teaching school for several terms.

On December 27, 1886, Della Keel was united in marriage with Harry E. Shifflett, and the young couple started housekeeping in the old Shifflett homestead in Bureau county. They came to Iowa in 1900, settling in the Pitzer neighborhood in Madison county a year later, and moving to Earlham in 1907. Four children--Scott, Elma, Grant and Pearl--arrived to bless the home established by Harry and Della Shifflett. The youngest, Pearl, and the oldest, Scott, have preceded their mother in death.

In 1917 Mr. and Mrs. Shifflett moved from Earlham to a farm in Ringgold County, where they lived for 25 years. In the fall of 1942 they returned to their old home in Earlham. Here, in August 1943, their almost 57 years of partnership ended with the death of Harry Shifflett. Following her husband's decease Mrs. Shifflett continued to make her home in Earlham, until, on April 26, 1945, she answered the call to her eternal home above.

Della Shifflett knew that call, for throughout her life she had lived close to her Master. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, and though health had prevented her, during much of her life, from participating in church activities, she was a Christian from the very depths of her heart. Extremely quiet, retiring and unassuming, thinking always of others and not of herself, enjoying study and discussion of all things 'honest and pure and of good report', she was truly one of "God's gentlewomen."

So now Della Shifflett has gone to join her loved ones in a grand reunion above, and she walks on earth no more. But she is not forgotten by those who are left behind. In the hearts of her friends and loved ones the memory of her kindly graciousness and sweet simplicity will remain forever as an inspiration and a benediction. To her grandchildren and her great grandchildren "Grandma Shifflett" will always be an ideal. Thank God for the life she has lived!

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