Martha "Joan" McShurley

Martha “Joan” McShurley was born November 7, 1929, in Muncie, Indiana. She was the third of four children, born to Russel and Mary Sheward. Three days after she turned 96, Joan passed away peacefully on November 10.

Joan grew up in Selma, where she was a cheerleader and graduated from Selma High School in 1948. She went on to attend Ball State. Joining the very first class of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority at Ball State Teachers College, Joan was recently recognized as a 75 year member of ACOS. She was also a member of College Avenue Methodist Church, serving on many committees, and a member of United Methodist Women. She volunteered in the Ball Hospital Gift Shop for 30 years and was on the Ball Hospital Auxiliary Board. She enjoyed bowling, knitting, playing bridge with her friends for many decades, euchre with her grandchildren, reading, taking granddaughters to buy make-up, visiting with family and friends and water aerobics at Catalina. She worked at JC Penney, was a jewelry rep for many years, enjoyed retail work, opened Carmel Corner at the Mall with Kirk and Janet, and substituted in a special education class.

Joan married Ray McShurley on January 3, 1951. They lived in Angola where they opened a Dairy Queen. Next, they moved to Evansville. In 1962, they moved to Muncie to the house they lived in for the rest of their lives.

Joan and Ray enjoyed dancing, investing in the stock market, and traveling to places such as Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Las Vegas, New York, San Diego, and Tennessee. Joan also enjoyed trips to Myrtle Beach.

Joan loved watching basketball games, especially the Indiana Fever and Purdue. She also liked watching the Indianapolis Colts. She loved Lowery’s chocolates, honey bell oranges and grapefruit. When the weather was warm, Joan would sit in a lawn chair at the top of her driveway to get her daily dose of Vitamin D, waving and talking to friends and neighbors passing by. She will be remembered for her caring disposition, sharp wit, independence, sense of humor, as well as welcoming family and friends in her home where she always offered food or drink.

Joan is survived by her three sons, Jay McShurley (Cathy Lee), Somerset, Kentucky; Kirk McShurley (Janet), Muncie; Jeff McShurley, Indianapolis; grandchildren, Stephanie Shunneson (Mike), New Castle; Ryan (Rachel), Muncie; five great-grandchildren, Caitlin, Aidan, and Sacha Shunneson, and Rilyn and Reese McShurley; a brother-in-law, several nieces and nephews, her many bridge club friends and dear friends, Nan Noble, Larry and Nancy Ettel.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray in 2016; and by her siblings Virginia Gentry, Marilyn Johnston, and Eugene Sheward.

Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life for Joan on Tuesday, November 18 at Elm Ridge Funeral Home, 4600 W. Kilgore Ave. Muncie, Indiana, 47304. Calling hours begin at 2 p.m. with the service beginning at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Christian Ministries of Delaware County or Riley Children’s Hospital.