Shirley Jean Armstrong, daughter of Fred and Cora (Canon) Ayres, was born on April 5, 1935 in Shenandoah, Iowa. She passed away on Tuesday, January 30, 2007 at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska following a lengthy bout with cancer.

Her early life was spent in Shenandoah where she received her education from the Shenandoah Community Schools. On August 1, 1952, Shirley was united in marriage to Walter Armstrong in Shenandoah. Following their marriage they made their home in rural Coin, Iowa on the farm. Shirley worked a variety of jobs over the years. She initially worked as a switchboard operator and later worked at the following places: Henry Fields Nursery, Leacox Drug Store, Eaton Transmission, Travis Pharmacy, Murphy's Coin Caf and briefly at the Coin Library. Shirley was a member of the First Christian Church in Shenandoah as a youth and was a member of the Coin United Methodist Church as an adult. Shirley enjoyed the following activities: bingo, bowling, word puzzles, going to the casino, shopping, crafts, cooking, helping with Operation Blessing, visiting relatives and any activities involving young children. Most of all she loved spending time with her grandkids, great grandkids and family.

Preceding Shirley in death were her parents and two brothers, Dean and Don Ayres. Survivors include her husband, Walter Armstrong of Coin, IA; daughter, Dianne Jamison and her husband Scott of Ottawa, IL; son, Steve Armstrong and his wife Marcia of Coin, IA; seven grandchildren, Andy Jamison and his fiance Shannon Means of Elkhart, IN, Nikki Carlson and her husband Todd of Clarinda, IA, Matt Jamison of Indianapolis, IN, Katie Son and her husband Nate of Pella, IA, Jeffrey Armstrong and his wife Lori of Northboro, IA, Jenny Armstrong of Coin, IA, and Jessica Jamison of Ottawa, IL; three great grandchildren, Levi and Blake Son of Pella, IA and Colby Carlson of Clarinda, IA; two brothers, Bill Ayres and his wife Ann and Mick Ayres and his wife Maxine; four sisters, Eunice Preo and her husband Bob, Mary Brink and her husband Lee, Nancy Ketcham and her husband Larry and Pat Farquhar and her husband Lyle; sister-in-law, Jean Ayres; other relatives and many friends.

Celebration of life memorial services were held on Sunday, February 4, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. at the Coin United Methodist Church in Coin, Iowa. Words of comfort were given by the Rev. Carl Phillips. Special music was "When I Get To Where I'm Going" sung by Jeff Armstrong and "How To Say Goodbye" sung by Katie Son. Other musical selections were "Amazing Grace" and "Love, Me". Attending the memory register were Burtis Aufenkamp and Marlene Racine. Caring for the flowers were Sharon Brought, Mildred Hawn, Marilyn Kiethly and Darlene Whitmore. Ushers were Lester Racine and Darrell D. Murphy. Private family inurnment of the cremains was in the Union Grove Cemetery at Northboro, Iowa. The Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah was entrusted with the arrangements.