MCPHERSON, Shirley V. (1925-2023)

MCPHERSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/29/2023 at 12:54:57

Shirley Vera McPherson
(September 2, 1925 - January 22, 2023)

Funeral services for Shirley McPherson, 97, who passed away Sunday, January 22, 2023 at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, will be held 2 p.m., Friday, January 27, 2023, at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola, with burial following in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The visitation will be held prior to services from 1 to 2 p.m., at the funeral home. Shirley, or “Toots,” as her three siblings called her, was born on the Kimzey family farm, two miles north of Milo, Iowa. She received her high school education from Milo High School and upon graduation, attended Central College in Pella, Iowa, where she earned her teaching certificate in 1943. Shirley taught at McClelland Country School and later Ackworth school. William N. McPherson served on the school board at Ackworth and had told his son, Charles “Chuck” there was a pretty new school teacher at Ackworth that needed some firewood chopped, and the rest is history. Shirley and Chuck were married in 1949. Following their marriage at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa, Chuck and Shirley moved to the farm north of Indianola. There was no electricity, no running water, and the farm was terribly run down. They raised three children on the farm and were extremely proud of the improvements made throughout the years. They spent their golden years traveling the southwest and spending time with friends and family in Apache Junction, Arizona. Upon Charles’ death in 1991, Shirley continued to travel, taking bus trips through People’s Bank where they visited Nova Scotia and the Northeast, Zion National Park in Utah, and other beautiful sites across the country. In addition to traveling, Shirley was an active member of Scotch Ridge Presbyterian Church, and she enjoyed helping run the farm, sewing, reading, and gardening. For the past six years, Shirley lived independently at Windsor Manor where she enjoyed her neighbors, visits from her family, and the annual ice cream social, courtesy of her sons.
Shirley is survived by her sons, Dick McPherson and Bob (Sherry) McPherson; grandchildren, Kym (Ryan) Dresback, Andy McPherson, Scott (Abbie) Schurman, Sarah (Dan) Puck; great grandchildren, Dylan Dresback, Reid Schurman, Robert McPherson, Riley Schurman, Olivia Dresback, Stella Puck, Reagan Schurman and Liam Puck. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles William McPherson; daughter, Kathryn Schurman; parents, James L. and Doris (Bloom) Kimzey; sister, Virginia Wickett; brothers, Jack Kimzey and Jim Kimzey. Memorials may be given in her name to Scotch Ridge United Presbyterian Church or Taylor House Hospice. [This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]