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The Life of SHIRLEY RAE BURKETT

Shirley Rae Larsen Burkett was born on September 28, 1935 in Waterloo, IA, and adopted as an infant by Mildred and Raymond Larsen. She passed away May 30, 2014, at University Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Shirley grew up in Cedar Falls where she graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1953. She graduated from Grand View College in Des Moines with a teaching degree in Elementary Education. At Grand View, Shirley was President of the college’s chapter of the National Honor Society.

On June 16, 1956, Shirley married her beloved husband, Raymond William Burkett. They became the parents of Jeffrey Paul Burkett (Connie), Julie Rae Brown (Craig), and Jonay Marie Burkett (Mike).

Shirley taught in the Saydel Consolidated School District before becoming a secretary at Meredith Publishing Company and Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. After being a stay-at-home Mom, Shirley became her husband’s pharmacy tech at Mercy Hilltop Clinic Pharmacy.

Shirley enjoyed reading, embroidering, traveling, and her annual fishing trip in northern Minnesota with Raymond. The Burkett’s have been members of Union Park United Methodist Church for over 50 years.

Survivors include her husband, Raymond, three above mentioned children, five grandchildren, Christopher Burkett (Heidi), Megan Burkett, Lily Brown, Dylan and Dallas Winter; as well as one great-granddaughter, Nora Burkett.

Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2014, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue, Des Moines. Funeral services will begin at 2:00 p.m., with burial to follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Dr. Mark Westberg and his nurse Jan, as well as Dr. Todd Jensen for their many years of compassion and devoted care of Shirley.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Iowa Chapter of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Society for research, or Union Park United Methodist Church.

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