Shirley Louise Carver, 89, of Collins, IA passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 15, 2024, in Nevada, IA. Shirley was born on March 25, 1935, in Cave Springs, AR to Paul and Roxie (Talburt) Smith. They moved to Collins, IA in 1937 where Shirley lived the rest of her life. She graduated from Collins High School in 1952. After graduation Shirley worked for the Exchange State Bank before moving to Esther Hall in Des Moines and working at Blue Cross.

On April 11, 1953, she married John Carver, her classmate at Collins High School. John and Shirley celebrated 71 years of marriage this last April. They lived and farmed in rural Collins with John's father and brother and raised hogs and cattle. Shirley continued to work for Exchange State Bank part time. They started their family in 1955 with son Mark and son Matt in 1958. Their family continued to grow as Mark & Darla had two girls, Tara and Jennifer, and Matt had two girls Nicole and Andrea, and then Matthew and Crystal with wife Robyn. Family was very important to Shirley as she loved hosting Holidays, especially Christmas, and campfires in the timber were a family tradition.

Shirley has always been active in the Collins Christian Church. She taught many years of Sunday School and participated in bible studies, but her talents really showed most through music. Shirley started playing piano for Sunday School during high school and went on to play piano and organ for church for over 60 years. She played for hundreds of church services, weddings, and funerals. Shirley also conducted the Collins Christian Church Choir and Collins Community Choir and produced many Christmas and Easter cantatas. Music was a large part of her life, and she immensely enjoyed sharing it with others.

Shirley also had a passion for crafting and creating things. She loved decorating and her home was full of her own crafts and hand-painted ceramics. Shirley enjoyed sharing her talents and spent many hours with a glue gun, ribbon and floral foam creating arrangements for family and friends. Her impressive craft room provided countless hours of entertainment and bonding with her grandchildren. Her hobby led to opening a store, "Timeless Treasures" on Main Street in Ames for a few years in the early 90s. Shirley also had a prowess with a sewing machine, from sewing clothes for her children and grandchildren to later in life a passion for quilting. Many people have a quilt, with a handwritten note, that was gifted to commemorate a special occasion.

John and Shirley enjoyed traveling and camping. A family favorite vacation destination was the Rocky Mountains where many memories were made. Shirley still talked about a trip to Jerusalem 40 years later. After retirement, you would often find them packing up the camper to spend time with friends.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Roxie Smith, sister Saundra, and great-grandson Conner Carver. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband John Carver of Collins; sons: Mark (Darla) Carver of Collins and Matt (Robyn) Carver of Cambridge; Grandchildren: Tara (Eric) Crain, Ames; Jennifer (Tom) Cannon, Newton; Matthew (Barb) Carver, Bondurant; Crystal (Nick Howard) Carver, Ankeny; great-grandchildren: Wyatt and Isabella Crain, Lane and Trey Cannon, Dylan, Brock, Sammy and Julie Carver, Carter, Lily, Hazel and Max Engelbrecht, Paul and JC Swartzlander, and sister Reda Kilgore.

A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the Collins Christian Church in Collins with Pastor Scott Jones officiating. Family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Collins.

Memorial contributions in Shirley's memory may be made to the Collins Christian Church.

Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is caring for Shirley and her family. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.rasmussonfh.com.