Shirley Claire Gillette

Shirley Claire Housholder was born July 24, 1910 at Center, North Dakota the daughter of Dr. Harold A. and Leta Bloom Housholder. The family moved to Winthrop, Iowa when Shirley was three years old.
She was educated in the Winthrop Public Schools, graduating in the class of 1928 as Valedictorian of her class. She then enrolled and graduated from Cornell College in 1932.
On October 6, 1934, Shirley was united in marriage to R. Eldon Gillette, a classmate of Winthrop High School. To this union were born three sons: Ronald Ellsworth who died at birth, Roger Eldon and Harold Dean.
After their marriage Eldon and Shirley purchased the farm which joined his fathers farm on the north, from Edgar Vaske and lived their until they retired and moved to Winthrop in 1972.
Shirley was a member of the Winthrop Methodist Church now the Church of Christ United, the order of the Eastern Star, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Buffalo Creek Golf Club.
After retirement Eldon and Shirley enjoyed playing golf and traveling in their motor home, spending winters in Texas, Arizona, and California.
Shirley passed away Monday, May 12, 2008 at the East Towne Care Center in Independence after a lengthy illness at the age of 97.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers Maurice and Dean, her husband Eldon in 1997, an infant son, and two grandsons.
Survivors include her two sons: Roger (Doreen) of Southlake, Texas and Harold (Claudia) of Winthrop; seven grandchildren: Susan, Shelly, Steven, Scott, Stacie, Valerie, and Jeffrey; eight great grandchildren: Connor, Nicholas, Drew, Tyler, Owen, Addison, Gillian, and Makaela; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, May 14, 2008 in the Church of Christ United with Pastor Dean Schlitter officiating. Casketbearers will be: Scott Gillette, Susan Maher, Glen Peck, Dave Peck, Virgil Bateman, and Robert Burns. Interment will be in Fremont Township Cemetery north of Winthrop. Friends may call from 4 PM until 7 PM Tuesday at Fawcett Funeral Home in Winthrop and after 10 AM Wednesday at the Church. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.fawcettsfuneralhome.com under obituaries.