Bransford, Shirley

Shirley Bransford, 81, of Center Point, died Sunday, May  27, 2012. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 6, at Center Point United Methodist Church, by Pastor Mike Ellson and associate Ken Graham of Center Point United Methodist Church, where visitation will be held one hour before services. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Center Point.

Survivors include her son, Dr. Kevin (Mary) Myrmo of Naples, Fla.; daughter, Tracy Stone of Ely; sisters, Norma Mitchell of Dallas, Texas, and Geraldine Thomas of Tama; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Paul and Maynard; and five sisters, Maxine Shields, Marjorie Ward, Betty Blake, Arlene Reed and Bea Dudek.

Shirley was born Aug. 16, 1930, to Sumner and Corra Belle Butterfield, in Anamosa, Iowa. She graduated from Cedar Rapids Roosevelt High School in June 1948. On June 17, 1951, she was married to Dr. Carl Myrmo and after 28 years they divorced. Later she married Clifford Bransford.

Her greatest joy in life was knowing she belonged to Jesus. She served Him in short missionary stints in Mindinao, Philippines and in England with Operation Mobilization, and as a house parent for homeless people in Maryland. She loved doing Bible seminars in Iowa and South Dakota in prisons and guiding women's Bible Studies.

Memorials may be directed in Shirley's memory to the Center Point United Methodist Church.

Please sign the online guest book for Shirley at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published June 3, 2012 in The Gazette