Shirley Ann (Preston) Huffaker

Shirley Ann Huffaker, 73, of Baxter died on Sunday, July 22, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.  A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 30, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 4-6 p.m., Sunday, July 29, at the funeral home.  Memorials to Shirley’s family may be left at the funeral home.

Shirley, the daughter of Carl and Mary (Stamp) Preston, was born on September 9, 1944 in Burlington, Iowa. She later lived in Reasnor and Newton, graduating in the Newton High School class of 1962.  Shirley was united in marriage with the love of her life, Donnell Huffaker on July 3, 1968 in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. They lived in Newton before making their home in Baxter in 1975.  Shirley had been employed at several restaurants, nursing homes, the Jasper County Care Facility, and Granny’s Diner.  From 1988 to 1997 when she retired, Shirley worked at the Des Moines Register in customer service.

Shirley enjoyed doing crafts, especially making Christmas stockings, and watching her favorite television shows like Q.V.C., Wheel of Fortune, Cooking with David, and many more.  She was also a huge Chicago Cubs fan, loved following her Iowa Hawkeyes in both football and basketball, and watching NASCAR.  Shirley was a member of the Baxter UCC and American Legion Auxiliary, past member of the Izaak Walton League, and had been a 4-H and Scout Leader.

Shirley Ann Huffaker, 73, of Baxter died on Sunday, July 22, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.  A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 30, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 4-6 p.m., Sunday, July 29, at the funeral home.  Memorials to Shirley’s family may be left at the funeral home.

Shirley, the daughter of Carl and Mary (Stamp) Preston, was born on September 9, 1944 in Burlington, Iowa. She later lived in Reasnor and Newton, graduating in the Newton High School class of 1962.  Shirley was united in marriage with the love of her life, Donnell Huffaker on July 3, 1968 in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota. They lived in Newton before making their home in Baxter in 1975.  Shirley had been employed at several restaurants, nursing homes, the Jasper County Care Facility, and Granny’s Diner.  From 1988 to 1997 when she retired, Shirley worked at the Des Moines Register in customer service.

Shirley enjoyed doing crafts, especially making Christmas stockings, and watching her favorite television shows like Q.V.C., Wheel of Fortune, Cooking with David, and many more.  She was also a huge Chicago Cubs fan, loved following her Iowa Hawkeyes in both football and basketball, and watching NASCAR.  Shirley was a member of the Baxter UCC and American Legion Auxiliary, past member of the Izaak Walton League, and had been a 4-H and Scout Leader.

Shirley is survived by her husband of over 50 years, Donnell Huffaker, Sr. of Baxter; three sons, Donnell (Jennifer) Huffaker, Jr. of Michigan, Scott (Beckie) Huffaker of Newton, and Jeffrey (Rosa) Huffaker of South Dakota; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her sister, Margaret Broeffle; brothers-in-law, Bill Allsup, Larry (Tesha) Huffaker, and Harlan Huffaker; half-sister, Helen Guthrie; sister-in-laws, Collene Blakley, Martha Bucklin, Carolyn Bishop and her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Joseph; brother, Norman Blakley; two sisters, Minnie Morris and Karen Allsup; and half-sister, Dorothy Hill; brother-in-laws, Tom Bucklin, Robert Broeffle, and Doyle Morris; sister-in-law, Donna Martin.

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