Shirley M. Whaley

Shirley M. Whaley

December 11, 1949 – September 21, 2020

Shirley Mabel Whaley, age 70 years.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Gale and Delores Baker.  Survived by daughters, Carie Lehrke (Jeremy) and Teri Sterling (Mike); grandchildren, Allison and Joshua Sterling; sisters: Kathy Goolsby (Mark), Marcie Koziol (Dan), Gaylen Baker (Gay), and Gayl Shamblen; brother, Duane Baker (Bonnie); aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Shirley was born in Logan, Iowa.  She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs.  She was introduced to Garold through one of her friends while he was serving in the USAF (although they had never met in person).  Shirley would write to him and they had their first date when he returned home from the service in February 1969.  They were married August 29, 1969 and their marriage lasted for 48 ½ years.

Shirley took up golf later in life and fell in love with it.  At one point, she golfed on league 3 times a week.  She traveled often with her girlfriends “just” to go golf.  Eventually they purchased a retirement home in Florida and lived right on the course.  She had her own souped up golf cart that went 25 mph so she could drive it on the neighborhood roads to the clubhouse.  Shirley was always a caregiver.  She had in home daycares, was a nanny and also helped care for her mother.  She would even dog sit for friends and family.

VISITATION for family and friends following CDC guidelines: Saturday, September 26^th from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, at the West Center Chapel followed by GRAVESIDE SERVICE at 1:45pm, Resurrection Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association – Omaha.