Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa

Joseph Murray SHAHA, son of Joseph H. SHAHA and Mary MURRAY SHAHA, was born January 5, 1916, on a farm southeast of Mount Ayr, Iowa. He departed this life on July 7, 1990, at the Veterans Hospital in Knoxville, Iowa. At the time of his death he was 74 years, six months and two days of age.

He attended rural school in Poe township. In March of 1941 he was called to serve his countyr. Murray was a member of the 9th Armoured Division under the direction of General PATTON and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was discharged from the U.S. Army in October of 1945.

On April 10, 1948, in Lamoni, Iowa, he ws united in marriage to Georgia Mae TERWILLIGER. To this union one son was born, James Howard SHAHA. He and his family farmed in the Ringgold county area until they retired from farming in 1979 and moved into Mount Ayr.

Since retirement he enjoyed visiting with his family and friends, telling stories, reading, hunting and fishing. He and Georgia loved to travel and spent winters in Nevada until health reasons no longer permitted it. Murray spent a lot of time in his wood shop making crafts. Above all, his very favorite pastime was flying airplanes. He started flying in 1935 and continued his favorite sport until the spring of this year. He was a member of the American Legion Post #172.

Murray was preceded in death by his mother and father, and a half-brother, Lloyd B. EVERSON of Pierre, South Dakota.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Georgia; son, James and wife, Bonnie, and three grandchildren, Steven, David and Heather of Creston, Iowa; two brothers, Rex SHAHA and wife, Vesta, of Mount Ayr and Earnest D. SHAHA and wife, Doris, of Long Beach, California; one half-sister, Nainna GNAT and husband, Cecil, of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; a half-brother, George EVERSON and wife, Carol, of Buckley, Washington; a half-sister-in-law, Shirley EVERSON of Pierre, South Dakota; many nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.

Funeral services were held July 11, 1990, from the Wilson-Watson Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa, conducted by Rev. Norman NOBLE. Music was provided by Mrs. Gary BICKERS and Mrs. Roger TRULLINGER.

Casketbearers were Ed ROTERT, Kim WATSOn, Greg POWELL, Lyle MINNICK, Bill SALSMAN and Everett POWELL. Honorary pallbearers were Jim JONES, Bill RUSK, Dean BRAND, Algie LINK, GLen SWANK, Clyde BRAND, Arlen HUGHES and Vernon McGAHUEY. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery at Mount Ayr, Iowa.

Military graveside rites were conducted by Ringgold Post #172, American Legion.

Transciption by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2011

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