Oates, Shirley Joan

Shirley Joan Oates died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011. Memorial service: 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, by the Rev. Bill Warhover. A private family graveside service will be conducted before the memorial service. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Survivors include her four children: Sharon Oates of River Forest, Ill.; Nancy Oates of Chapel Hill, N.C., and her husband, Don Evans; Bill Oates and his wife, Kathryne Oates, of Cedar Rapids; and Pete Oates and his wife, Darcy Oates, of Cedar Rapids; her five grandchildren: Austin Oates and his wife, Cailey Oates, and Kaylie Oates and Trevor Oates of Cedar Rapids; and Will Priest and his wife, Perla Priest, and Sarah Priest, of Chapel Hill; her great-grandson, Nathaniel Oates of Cedar Rapids; and her brothers, Ian Smith and his wife, Karen Smith, of Madison, Wis., and Neil Smith and his wife, Eliane Wait, of Freneuse, France; and special family friend, Donna Hakes of Cedar Rapids.

She was predeceased by her parents and by her husband, Harold W. Oates.

Born to William K. Smith and Vera Wickware Smith in Pullman, Wash., on April 21, 1931, Shirley grew up in Madison, Wis. She graduated from Madison West High School in 1949 and attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison. During her senior year in high school, she met Harold Oates while she was serving dinner for college students at Glenwood Moravian Church. They married on Sept. 16, 1951, a union that lasted until Harold's death on Aug. 23, 2003.

After working at the phone company early in her marriage, Shirley put her energy into her family. She thrived on raising her children, doting on her grandchildren and her brand-new great-grandson, being a devoted friend to many, and generally keeping everyone on their toes. Once her children were more or less launched, she returned to work, first for the Cedar Rapids School District. She worked as a secretary at Iowa National Insurance Co. until it closed, then became the receptionist for a new brokerage firm opening up downtown, Berthel Fisher & Fleischman, until she retired in 1996. She loved her work.

Her church was very important in her life. Shirley was a longtime member of Central Park Presbyterian Church, now Echo Hill Presbyterian Church.

Shirley excelled at making people feel welcome and at ease. She managed to find the fun in any project she took on. She lived life with enthusiasm and resilience, and never said no to new experiences. There was never a topic on which she didn't voice a strong opinion. She laughed easily, even at herself. As physical ailments limited her mobility, she still looked forward to bridge games, book club, Fourscore and phone calls with friends.

The family would like to thank the staff of Manor Care for their compassionate care of Shirley in her final months.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be directed to Community Free Health Clinic in Cedar Rapids, Camp Courageous of Iowa or Echo Hill Presbyterian Church.

Due to recent construction, it is required that visitors to Cedar Memorial enter making a right turn from westbound First Avenue (heading toward downtown).

Please leave a message, tribute or memory to the Oates family on the Web page,  under Obituaries.

Published Sept. 29, 2011, in The Gazette