Flannagan, Shirley Ann Gifford

Shirley Ann Gifford Flannagan, 74, of Cedar Rapids,died Monday, April 30, 2012, at her home following a short illness. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Iowa Cremation is in charge of arrangements.

Shirley is survived by her husband of 55 years, Gene; daughters, Vicki (Andy) Monaghan of Winthrop and Jeanie (Robert) Craggs of Novinger, Mo.; son, Ron (Becky) Flannagan of O'Fallon, Mo.; grandchildren, Kelle (Bryan) Frederick, Cody (Kerrin) Monaghan, Lori (Aaron) Simon, Brandy (Tyler Hepler) Craggs, Faith Flannagan, Katelynn Craggs and Ben Flannagan; great-grandchildren, Kendra Frederick, Kassandra Frederick and Kelsey Frederick; and a great-grandson due in June.

She is also survived by sister, Bonnie Roberts of Three Rivers, Mich.; brother, Tom Gifford of Winthrop; sisters-in-law, Sandy Kent of Manchester, Virginia Flannagan of Marion, JoAnn Mesch of Hiawatha and Diana (Don Sickles) Ross of Manchester; brother-in-law, Danny Flannagan of Manchester; many nieces and nephews; and the four family cats, Psycho, Smokey, Rascals and Baby.

Shirley was preceded in death by mother, Inez Barone; father, Elmer Gifford; brother, Harry Kent; stepfather, Harold Barone; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dan and Dorothy Flannagan; brothers-in-law, Glenn Flannagan and Larry Roberts; sisters-in-law, Kay Gifford and Judy Flannagan; nieces, Kimberly Gifford and Kelly Roberts; and nephew, Glenn Flannagan Jr.

Shirley Ann Gifford was born Jan. 1, 1938, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Elmer Ray Gifford and Inez Ilene (Blood) Gifford. The family moved to Manchester, Iowa, and Shirley graduated from Manchester High School with the class of 1956. Shirley and William Eugene Flannagan were married Sept. 23, 1956 at the Methodist Church in Manchester.

Shirley worked in many fields during her lifetime, farm wife and mother, Collins in Cedar Rapids, nurse's aide in Manchester, activity director at the Buchanan County Home and East Towne in Independence, administrator at Edinburgh Manor of Jones County, residential specialist at Shilom in Des Moines, APAC, Blimpie and Chic-fil-a at Westdale Mall,from where she retired in September 2011 due to ill health.

Shirley enjoyed everything Iowa Hawkeyes, her grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's activities, getting her nails done, Diet Pepsi, cake decorating, crafts, flea markets, shopping and going out to eat.

Online condolences may be left at under “obituaries.”

Published in The Gazette May 2, 2012.