Shirley Harris

Shirley Mae Harris, 88, of Cedar Falls, Iowa went to be with our Lord on February 16, 2024. She passed quickly and joined the love of her life, Gary Dee Harris in Heaven. Shirley was born on February 3, 1936, after her parents Ejnar and Helen (Fisher) Christensen, took a horse drawn sleigh in a snowstorm to town. They lived on a farm outside of Dike, Iowa where Shirley and her 3 siblings grew up. She attended Dike High School (DHS) playing girls Basketball and the clarinet in the Marching Band, graduating DHS in 1954. Soon after graduation, she went to Des Moines to attend secretarial school, where she met Gary. On February 23, 1957, Shirley and Gary were married at Fredsville Lutheran Church in Dike. The newlyweds spent their first year of marriage in California. They moved back a year later, as Shirley missed family and the 4 seasons of Iowa. They proceeded to live in Newton, IA; Austin, MN; Burlington, IA, and then the family moved with their 3 children to Cedar Falls in 1975. Shirley was a loving, devoted wife and stay-at-home mom during the children’s growing up years, while Gary managed Younkers Department stores. She had God’s serving heart, always volunteering at her children’s schools and throughout the community. She served as PTA President, modeled for Younkers and later was the Nazareth Lutheran Church Wedding Coordinator, to name a few. She received the Outstanding Young Women’s award in 1974 and 1975. Shirley was proud of her Danish Heritage as her father Ejnar Christensen came over from Denmark in 1922. She had a passion for the Cedar Valley Danes and the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, Iowa. She enjoyed making her Danish Kringle, Rullepolse, and Aebleskivers. Shirley along with Jane Christensen, her sister-in-law, compiled a Christensen family cookbook with many of the Danish recipes. Shirley loved playing Bridge! In couples Bridge and with the girls! She enjoyed crafts, baking, gardening, and canning/freezing with her kids in the kitchen for long hours. Gary and Shirley were in a Gourmet group, as she loved to cook and socialize. They also rode bikes on weekend trips with their friends, volunteered at UNI’s Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, as they both enjoyed theatre, and did square dancing together in their younger years. They were longtime members of Nazareth Lutheran Church, where they served and raised their children to love the Lord. In 1977, Gary and Shirley purchased the local Swiss Colony stores, where they worked together for many years. Later, she did secretarial work at Dieter Law firm and at Principal Insurance. Shirley loved to travel abroad and found much joy traveling to Houston and Kansas City to visit her grandkids! She loved having summer Grandma camp and had the loving role of Grandma perfected! Shirley is survived by three children: Mark (Kelly) Harris of Olathe, Kansas; Marcia (Edmond Mah) Duncan of Houston, Texas; Monica (Dan) Post of Overland Park, Kansas. Six grandchildren Taylor Harris, Blake (Lauren) Duncan, Matthew (Mallory) Duncan, Lauren (Connor) Staihr, Rachel, and Whitney Post. Seven great-grandchildren Caroline, Hudson, Bennett, and Jack Harris Duncan; Ford Dee, Elle, and Isla Duncan. Her brother Chuck (Jane) Christensen of Dike Iowa and sister-in-law Maggie Christensen also of Dike. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Gary Harris, sister Mary Ellen Christensen, and brother Robert Christensen. The family would like to give a special thank you to all of Shirley’s wonderful caregivers, nurses, and doctors at the Western Home Communities. Also, a heartfelt Thank you to our family and friends for all your love and support. Services to honor Shirley will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 24, 2024, at the Diamond Event Center at Western Home Communities in Cedar Falls with a luncheon immediately following. Inurnment will take place at Fredsville Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Cedar Falls following the luncheon.

Shirley Harris

February 3, 1936 - February 16, 2024