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Shirley Marie Kramer was born September 1, 1934, the third child and third daughter of Albert C and Marie L. (Merritt) Kramer on a farm southeast of Holyoke, Colorado in Phillips County, Colorado. She departed this life on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at the age of 88 years, five months and 1 day.
When Shirley was a small child the family moved to a farm in Yuma County, Colorado where she grew to womanhood. She attended Mount Hope Country School, District #41 through the eighth grade and then four years at Wray High School graduating with the class of 1951. After graduation she began work at the First National Bank of Wray, and later at the Farmers State Bank of Brush where she worked until 1958. (She quit work to raise her three sons.) Shirley later worked as a secretary at the West Middle School of Yuma, the Neo Life Store and at the Yuma United Methodist Church, where she was the secretary for seven years. She retired in 1996. (Later she worked for Don in his real estate business when needed.) Don bought her a computer for her 60th birthday and after taking several classes has enjoyed knowing this, very much proving we are never too old to learn.
On January 11, 1953 she was united in marriage to Donald Ray Starnes at The Methodist Church in Wray, Colorado. To this union three sons were born: Donald Bradford “Brad” on March 11, 1957, John Douglas “Doug” on September 19, 1959 and Daniel Ray “Danny” on July 14, 1961. Shirley was a life-long Methodist of 64 years years having been baptized and joined the First United Methodist of Wray in 1952, later moving her membership to Akron Methodist Church and Yuma United Methodist Church.
The family lived in Brush, Colorado and Akron, Colorado and later moved to Yuma, Colorado in January of 1965. The family purchased a home at 618 South Elm Street where she lived at the time of her death.
Shirley was a loving wife, devoted mother and doting grandmother. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her husband of 59 years, her children and grandchildren. She especially enjoyed Bible study, teaching Sunday School classes, lay speaking and growing roses to give away. She believed very strongly that only the things we do for Jesus Christ are of lasting value…nothing else really mattered. “Only one life, it will soon be past, only what is done for Christ will last.” (Matthew 22:36-38)
Shirley was chairman and editor of the West Yuma County Centennial book which was published in 1985, as part of Yuma’s 100th birthday held throughout 1986. What a project! The book took 9 months to complete and the 100 volunteers worked out of the Starnes home while compiling it. Many people in Yuma call it the “Yuma bible” as there are over 1,250 personal histories, as well as the Town of Yuma history, plus school, business, clubs and other histories pertaining to Yuma and surrounding communities. The volunteers were wonderful and worked so hard to make this a cherished historical book.
In August 2011 during Yuma’s 125th celebration Shirley was presented with the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the City of Yuma. She humbly accepted it and said it had to be shared with the 100 people who had worked with her throughout the years.
Shirley was preceded in death by her father and mother Albert and Marie Kramer; brothers, Raymond and Carl, sisters, M. Darlyne Milner and Betty Jean Knott; sister-in-laws, Jane Kramer and Carol Shafer; father-in-law, Ernest R. Starnes and mother-in-law, Ina G. Starnes; her beloved son, John Douglas “Doug” on October 25, 2000; beloved grandson, Jeremy Ray on July 21, 2003 and the love of her life for 59 years, Don on December 30, 2011.
Shirley is survived by her sons, Brad and wife, Mari of Riley, Kansas; Danny and wife Amal of Agora Hills, California; daughter-in-law Patti Igarashi of Danville, California; grandchildren Megan Rae Wiemers (Stephen); Dane Bradford (Valerie) Hayley Elizabethh Fox (Alan); Kaitlin Grace and Connor Douglas; sisters, Sylvia Ann Kramer of Rainer, Washington; Marilyn Lippert and husband of Bob of Electric City, Washington; brother, Gene Kramer of Wray; sister-in-law, Margaret Rose and husband Bill of San Clemente, California and brother-in-law, Stan Shafer of Wray, Colorado; brother-in-law, Bob Starnes and wife, Carol Ann of Branson, Missouri and a host of relatives and friends.
Memorials may be made to the American Bible Society, 1865 Broadway, New York, NY 10023 or to the Yuma United Methodist Church to purchase a stained glass window of Jesus to be placed above the door at the east entrance of the church.
Funeral service – Monday, January 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Yuma United Methodist Church with Reverend Ed Bollack officiating. Interment to follow at the Yuma Cemetery. Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.
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