Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Obituaries
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Thursday, March 20, 2025
Shirley Ann (Baker) Butler
Age: 86
City: Brighton, CO
Funeral Home
Murphy Funeral Home
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Shirley Ann (Baker) Butler
Shirley Ann (Baker) Butler
Brighton, CO
Shirley Ann (Baker) Butler, 85, of Brighton, Colorado, and formerly of Washington, passed away on Sunday, march 16, 2025 at her home in Brighton, Colorado.
Shirley was born on October 12, 1939, in Mt. Pleasant the daughter of Clifford and Ferrell (Manning) Baker, and was one of 12 children. Shirley grew up in Washington County, and went to school in a small country schoolhouse near Coppock. Shirley received Christ as her Savior at the age of 10, and was baptized in the Skunk River shortly after.
In 1956, Shirley was united in marriage to Ed Gillis of Burlington, from this union children were born, Scott, Kelli and Pam all of Brighton, Colorado. Shirley later married James Butler of Burlington, on July 17, 1976, and they lived most of their life together in Burlington. Jim and Shirley recently moved to Brighton, Colorado to be with their children. They enjoyed 49 years of marriage together before James passed away on June 25, 2024. She was a devoted Christian who loved the Lord, and who always took the time to witness to her family and to others. She was a faithful and beloved member of the Marion Avenue Baptist Church in Washington.
Those thankful in sharing in her life include her children, Scott (Sandra) Gillis, Kelly Gillis and Pam Gillis, her sisters and brothers, Kenny and Susan (Kurtz) Baker of Brighton, Iowa, Milly Manning (sister-in-law) of Washington, Iowa, Ed and Kathy Baker of Wayland, Iowa, Bess Arduser of Wayland, Iowa Karen Pickering of Washington, Iowa, Esther Johnson of Ft. Madison, Iowa, Ferrell and Bill Ulin of Washington, Iowa, Marilyn and Brad Smothers of Riverside, Iowa, Sandy and Paul Capps of Davenport, Iowa, Connie and Rick Berg of Coralville, Iowa, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Dwight Manning, an infant sister, Carol Baker, and her brothers-in-law, Larry Arduser and Lonnie Pickering.
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the Marion Avenue Baptist Church in Washington. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday from 2:15 p.m. until service time. Burial will be held at a later time at the Rock Island Arsenal. Cremation has been entrusted to the care of Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com.
Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant is caring for her arrangements.