Shirley Muzzey Peterson went peacefully to be with her Lord on April 13, 2026, following a life marked by faith, love, friendship, and devotion to her family. A funeral service will be held on June 20th, 2026, at 11:00am, at Christ Community Church in Ames. A time of food and fellowship will follow the service.
She was born on December 26, 1943, in Kenmare, ND to Pastor George E. Muzzey and Lucile Muzzey, who lovingly raised her in a home grounded in Christian faith and service.
Shirley spent her early years in North Dakota, where the family, which included siblings George, Marguerite and Paul, enjoyed doing puzzles and playing games together when they were not in school, working or involved in church activities. When Shirley was eight years old, her family moved to Waterloo, Iowa, later to Corning, Iowa, and eventually to Butte, Nebraska, where she graduated from high school. After graduation, she earned a degree from Omaha Baptist Bible College, further deepening the faith that would guide her throughout her life.
Shirley met and later married Melvin Roger Peterson of Burnside, Iowa while attending Omaha Baptist Bible College. Together, they embarked on a life of ministry, learning, and service. They moved to Dallas, Texas, where Roger attended Dallas Theological Seminary, graduating in May 1978 with a Master of Theology. Following this Roger and Shirley entered the ministry together at a local church in Ames, IA.
Shirley was the proud mother of three children: Marc (Jennifer) Peterson who lives in Ames, Iowa; Kevin (Kerri) Peterson who also lives in Ames and Kelly (Kent) Kastendick who lives in Grinnell, Iowa. As Shirley’s kids grew up, her days were filled supporting the family and church in any way needed. This included baseball and soccer games, long Sunday mornings at church, track and cross country meets, school activities and several part time jobs to help make ends meet.
Shirley was a devoted wife and a loving mother whose family was always at the center of her heart. Her faith was steady, sincere, and deeply rooted. She loved going out with her friends to chat over coffee and encourage one another, as well as participating in weekly Bible studies with her friends from Christ Community Church. Soon after Roger died in 2017, she was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, which had a profound impact on her life. Even as her body continued to decline, Shirley lived with confidence in God’s promises and held fast to the hope of Christ’s return. While she will be deeply missed by those who loved her, her family and friends take comfort in knowing she has been welcomed home and reunited with Christ.
She is survived by her three children, brother Paul, sister Marguerite, and six grandchildren (Jacob, Aleah (David), Tara, Jenae, Carter and Dawson). She was preceded in death by husband Roger (died 2017), her parents George and Lucile, brother George and granddaughter Joelle.
