Shirley Virginia Coon

Shirley V. Coon, 91, of Loveland, CO died April 23 at the Good Samaritan Village in Loveland. Shirley was born April 4, 1926 in Griswold, IA to Gustav T. and Elda G. Kuester and was raised on a farm near Griswold with her brother Dale. She graduated from Griswold High School in 1943 and worked in Des Moines during two legislative sessions (1945 and 1947) for her father Gustav, who was Speaker of the House. Shirley married Merrill L. Coon on April 4, 1948 in Griswold and they had two children, Katherine L. McCullar and Lori A. Mitchell. She worked as a telephone operator for Farmer’s Mutual Telephone Company in Clarinda, IA and for Northwestern Bell in Atlantic, IA, Ames, IA and Ankeny, IA, for a total of 24-1/2 years. She retired in December 1983. Shirley and Merrill moved to Loveland, CO in June 1984. Shirley and Merrill were a big help when their grandson Jeff was born in 1986. While Jeff was a toddler, Shirley took him to Lake Loveland to feed the geese. Visits to Toys R Us were always on the schedule. A wonderful letter writer, Shirley corresponded with family, friends and telephone co-workers for decades. She sent a card for every birthday or special event in her extended family. Shirley loved Rocky Mountain National Park, drives up Old Fall River Road and picnics at Sprague Lake and Endovalley. Preceding her in death were her parents Gustav T. and Elda G. Kuester, her husband Merrill L. Coon, her daughter Katherine L. McCullar and her brother Dale M. Kuester and his wife Ilene A. Kuester. Survivors include daughter Lori A. Mitchell and her husband Steve of Loveland, grandson Jeffrey R. Mitchell and his wife Jessica of Longmont, CO and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Cremation has been completed and at her request there will be no service. The family will scatter ashes and those of her husband at one of their favorite places in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. In lieu of flowers, a fund has been established in Shirley’s name at the Good Samaritan Society to provide recognition for the loving staff who cared for her there. Please consider sending a donation to the Good Samaritan Society - Loveland Village, attn. Craig Nelson, 2101 South Garfield Ave., Loveland, Colorado, 80537 in memory of Shirley V. Coon.