Shirley Ann Whitney

Shirley Ann (Amundson) Whitney was born January 31, 1930, to parents Thomas and Emma (Larson) Amundson at a family farmhouse two miles west of Radcliffe, Iowa. She was one of eight siblings: Helen, Frances, Warren, Harold, and Emma, Vivian, and Duane who died in infancy. Shirley went to a rural school, Lincoln #7, and went on to graduate from Radcliffe High School in 1947. She had an adventurous spirit. One of Shirley’s favorite stories to tell was a time she outran a train on her walk home from school. Shirley was a proud tomboy. As the third daughter, the two older sisters often helped inside the home, but Shirley was appointed to helping her father out on the farm. She always joked that she was never taught the tricks to cooking, but sure knew how to milk a cow.

She was united in marriage to Dean Arthur Whitney on May 23, 1950, in Webster City, Iowa. Dean and Shirley lived in Radcliffe all their married life where they raised their two children, Mary and Scott. Dean died on July 28, 1987, due to cancer. Shirley and Dean were big Iowa Hawkeyes fans. They were season ticket holders for Iowa Football for many seasons. Shirley loved the freedom of driving. She often reminisced about her solo travels to Colorado to visit her sister, Frances.

Shirley had a passion for helping others. She taught at the same one-room schoolhouse she attended as a student. Often times she was teaching children only a year or two younger than herself. She went on to work at the Radcliffe Community School District until her retirement. It was a fulfilling career, though she often dreamed of having the opportunity to go to college to become a nurse.

Upon her retirement she moved to Story City, Iowa, where she was very active at the Bethany Manor senior living center as a volunteer. She later moved to Altoona, Iowa, to help raise her grandchildren. She stayed very busy in her later years attending her three grandchildren’s activities. She never missed an event. One of Shirley’s greatest attributes was her love for others. Shirley and Dean always offered a helping hand to family and friends.

Shirley Ann Whitney, 92, of Altoona, Iowa, formally of Radcliffe, Iowa, passed away on Monday, October 24, 2022, at Edencrest at Green Meadows senior living.

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Mary Blakemore (Andy McReynolds) of Altoona, Iowa; son, Scott Whitney of West Des Moines, Iowa; grandchildren: Whitney Blakemore (Aaron Kacer) of Phoenix, Arizona, Brett Blakemore of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Alex Whitney of Ames, Iowa; a brother, Harold (Eddie) Amundson of Zearing, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dean; and siblings: Helen Underwood, Frances Embrey, Warren Amundson, and Emma, Vivian, and Duane Amundson.