Shirley F. Snell

Shirley Snell, 96, of Norwalk, died Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at Kavanagh House in Des Moines. She graciously donated her body for research to Des Moines University.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia Ave., Mason City, IA with Rev. Melanie Greengo officiating. Visitation will be at the church starting at 10:00 AM. Lunch will be served in the Fellowship Hall following the service.

Shirley Faye Scarrow was born on October 3, 1927 in a farm home near Plymouth, IA, the daughter of Marion and Clara (Pencook) Scarrow. She was raised in Plymouth alongside her sisters, Pauline, Phyllis, Dorothy and Alta May, and attended Plymouth High School, graduating in 1945.

Following her graduation Shirley attended Hamilton Business College completing her program in 1946 and worked as a secretary in Mason City.

On February 7, 1947 she was united in marriage to L. Dean Snell in Plymouth with her uncle, Everett Pencook officiating. She became a farm wife and lived on the Gilbert & May Peshak farm north of Plymouth where they were blessed with their first child, a daughter, Deanna. After moving to Kensett they were blessed with a second child, Brian. Shirley enjoyed being a farm wife especially when they moved to the farm she spent many years on near Rock Falls where she and Dean were blessed with two more children, Mark and Sue. Dean and Shirley shared 26 years of marriage.

While farming near Rock Falls, Shirley and Dean hosted farm trainees through Farm Bureau. Six young men from Brazil and Japan stayed with the family to learn U.S. agricultural practices and culture. She loved to travel and took full advantage of every opportunity to do so both domestically and internationally. Family was central to her being and purpose in life, connecting with family and friends everywhere was very important to her.

In 1985, Shirley moved to Mason City working as the kitchen coordinator at First United Methodist Church. She also made pies for the local restaurant Pies N More. Shirley enjoyed working as a personal care companion for several individuals in Mason City and later in Ames.

Shirley stayed very active within her communities throughout the years. She was involved in PEO, was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church in Plymouth, Mason City and Ames. Shirley enjoyed being a part of several church groups including Solos and bell choir. Shirley was a great sports fan. Her teams included the Minnesota Twins, Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones.

In 2003, Shirley moved to Ames to be near her grandchildren as they were growing up. One of her joys was creating Madrigal Dinner costumes for her grandchildren and other close friends and then attending the dinner to enjoy the music.

Shirley enjoyed her final years at Holland Farms in Norwalk playing bingo and spending her bingo winnings at the Holland Farms farmstore.
Those grateful in sharing her life are her children, Brian (Mary) Snell, West Des Moines (formerly Nora Springs), Mark (Cindy) Snell, Norwalk, and Sue (Randy) Griffith, Ames; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was also blessed to have many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Marion and Clara Scarrow; husbands, L. Dean Snell and Wayne Borchardt; daughter and son-in-law, Deanna (Bob) Cross; sisters and brothers-in-law, Pauline (Kenny) Chapin, Phyllis (Vernon) Helwig, Dorothy (Leon Woodward and Dave Baumgartner) Baumgartner, and Alta May (Bill) Held; and in-laws, LuVern and Anna Snell

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church in Mason City, IA or Plymouth United Methodist Church in Plymouth, Iowa. Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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