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Shirley Ruth Harker
Shirley Ruth Harker age 88 of Sturgis, Michigan passed away early Tuesday morning November 19, 2019 at her home. She was born February 12, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan daughter of the late Osborn and Ruby (Enders) Gauss. Shirley resided in Sturgis since 1944 and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1949. She was quite artistic and used to love to draw. On June 4, 1949 she married Jack E. Harker in Sturgis. He preceded her January 28, 2004. She worked for a short time in a Kirsch Company office until their first child came along. For many years she owned and operated with her husband and two sons Harker Electric in Sturgis. Shirley was a member of the St. Joseph Historical Society. Shirley’s interests and hobbies through the years also included sewing, gardening, reading, and the challenge of a good crossword puzzle or Sudoku, but what she enjoyed the most was time spent with family and friends. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and it was mutual. She was lucky enough to have a large extended family that she loved to see out and about or at family gatherings. She also looked forward to getting together with her Wednesday lunch bunch, Jack’s Sturgis High School class of 1947 gatherings, as well as spending time with her sisters. Shirley was a devoted wife to her husband and was selfless in caring for him in the 10 years between the time he suffered a stroke and his death in 2004. She is survived by two daughters: Peggy (Duane) Graham of Three Rivers and Laurie (David E.) Wallace of Fresno, California; two sons: Ken (Terri Montoya) Harker and Don (Linda Hicks) Harker both of Sturgis; ten grandchildren: Shane (Lena) Graham, Lisa Graham, Rion Graham, Lisa (Rob) Maldonado, Michael Singleton, Erin Singleton, Bethany Singleton and Brandon Singleton, James Buehlman and Christopher Gruver; four great grandchildren: Timothy Graham, Jack Graham, Stone Maldonado and Alexis Graham; two sisters: Laura Gang of Sturgis and Ethel Buhl of Klinger Lake and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband; granddaughter: Myra Graham and three brothers: Raymond Gauss, Paul Gauss and Edward Gauss. As Shirley requested, cremation has taken place, and there will be no services held. The family will receive family and friends at the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts, 201 N. Nottawa Street, Sturgis, MI, from 2:00-4:00 PM, on Saturday, November 23, 2019. The Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes of Sturgis is entrusted with the arrangements. The family suggests in lieu of flowers memorial donations be directed to the Sturgis Salvation Army, 105 N. Fourth Street, Sturgis, MI 49091 or Camp Fort Hill c/o: Sturgis Foundation, 310 N. Franks Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091. The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.February 12, 1931 - November 19, 201902/12/193111/19/2019
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Shirley Ruth Harker
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