Shirley Christine Townsend

Shirley was born in Newport Rhode Island. Her father, in the U.S. Navy, was stationed in the Philippines when WWII started, survived the Battan death march and the remainder of the time as a POW. Shirley's mother and the children moved to Seattle. She graduated from highland High School in 1955. Shirley and Jerry were married in Seattle on April 6, 1956, some 58 years ago. The family has resided in Laramie, Wyoming, Salt Lake City, Utah, Richland, Washington, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, and then to Idaho Falls in 1973. Shirley's thoughts and agenda were helping people. A first task was beautifully raising five children. She was the leader of a Girl Scout troop in Richland, Washington and Monroeville, Pennsylvania. Shirley loved working at Valley Care Nursing home and then those with Alzheimer's at Good Samaritan Nursing Home. She loved being active in church activities, helping make quilts with the "Happy Stitchers" group at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church (FELC) and participating in the Distribution of some of the quilts to the Idaho Youth Ranch. She loved coordinating for seven years, the Celebration of Life funeral meals and working with the family of the deceased and those preparing and serving the meals. She loved and enjoyed her many friends and playing a game, "Bunco", with lady friends. Shirley lived in the world of forgiveness. She easily forgave those that wronged her, her family or her friends. Shirley is survived by her husband Waldron C. "Jerry" Townsend; daughter Christina Carol Townsend, son Waldron Clint (Cathy) Townsend, daughter Bonnie Rae Fowler, and daughter Jamie Michelle (James) Hartley; granddaughters Jody Townsend, Brianna McKenna, Juree (Lynn) Burton, Melissa (Zach) Draper, Madison Hartley, Avery Hartley; great granddaughter Hanna Burton; and brother Rodney Hutchinson and sister-in-law Carol (Jerry) Wang. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Hutchinson and Myrtle DeVries, her stepfather Jim DeVries and a daughter Sharon. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2014, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 455 W. Sunnyside Road in Idaho Falls with Reverend Larry Cudmore, officiating. A visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Buck-Miller-Hann Funeral Home in Idaho Falls. Online condolences may be left at www.buckmillerhann.com.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Idaho Youth Ranch, 3465 W. Irving Street, Boise, Idaho 83406.Shirley Christine Townsend, 77, passed away on Sunday, October 26, 2014 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, following a stroke. Shirley was born on December 5, 1936.

Service Details.

Service

When: Thursday, October 30th, 2014
Location: Funeral Home
Address: