SHIRLEY J. WILCOX, 74, of Cherokee, Iowa, returned to her Father's arms on Tuesday evening, July 4, 2017 at Unity Point Health, St. Luke's in Sioux City, Iowa.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, July 10th, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Cleghorn, Iowa. Rev. Eric Wright will officiate. Burial of the cremains will be in the Meriden Cemetery at Meriden, Iowa. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the church on Monday. Visitation with the family present will be on Sunday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home at Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Shirley was born into her Father's world on August 31, 1942 at Marcus, Iowa. She graduated from Cleghorn High School in 1960. She was married to James Dean Wilcox on September 2, 1960 at the First Presbyterian Church in Cleghorn. She was a life-long member of the church and was active in many groups and was proud that all her children were baptized and confirmed there.

Shirley worked many jobs outside of the farm to provide for her family including head cook at the Meriden-Cleghorn School, USDA FSA, and Vern Anderson's Equipment (Titan Machinery); but her real job and passion in life was being a wife, mother, and teacher to her family. Family meant everything to her and she enjoyed traveling to as many church, school, and 4H events that her children and grandchildren were involved with, no matter the distance or weather conditions. The relationship with friends, family and neighbors was also special to her and she much enjoyed baking and cooking so she could entertain these special people at her home. She did this right up until the day she turned ill. Shirley was a life-long resident of Cherokee County and lived on the family farm east of Cleghorn for 47 years before moving into Cherokee in 2009.

After retiring from work in 2007, she became very active in volunteering and service organizations and often had every day booked with Hospice, Library Archives, Meals on Wheels, CASA, and TTT, and in many ways made these her passions where she provided back to the community. She also enjoyed playing bridge with many different local clubs and traveling.

She was preceded in death by her husband James D. Wilcox on February 24, 1996, her mother Phyllis (Dunn) Wilberding and her step-father Francis Wilberding.

She is survived by her three children: Tammy (Nate) Brady of Sioux City, Iowa; Kyra (Craig) Conley of Slater, Iowa; Arlyn (Ruth) Wilcox of Grundy Center, Iowa; four grandchildren: Morgan Brady of North Liberty, Iowa; Sydney Brady of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Merrill Brady of Lincoln, Nebraska; Logan Conley of Slater, Iowa.