Obituary of Ellen Shaw

A funeral service will be for Ellen Shaw, age 85, of Milford, will be held Monday, January 6, 2014 at 11:00am at Union Memorial Church in Milford. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. In lieu of flowers, please may be directed to: Alzeimer's Association 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 Or online at alz.org Ellen Lee Shaw was born February 17, 1928 in Everly, Iowa, the daughter of Ernest and Frances (Mett) Heikens. Ellen was raised and educated in Everly, graduating from Everly High School in 1945. She attended Iowa State University in Ames for a year until transferring to Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Ellen taught third and fourth grade at Sutherland, Storm Lake, Ames and Fairmont, Minnesota. She was united in marriage to John B. Shaw on July 30, 1949. The couple made their home on a farm in Excelsior Township, where they raised their children, Debra Lyn, Terri Lee and Ryan Jay. The couple moved into Milford, following retirement. Ellen was a member of Union Memorial Church in Milford, where she was active in Circle and participated in many Bible Studies. She was an excellent seamstress and loved to sew suits, blankets and girls dresses. Additionally, Ellen enjoyed traveling, playing Bridge, and, above all, spending time with friends and family. Ellen passed away Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at Milford Nursing Center in Milford, Iowa at eighty-five years of age. She is survived by her husband of sixty-four years, John Shaw of Milford; children, Debra Davis and her husband Bill, of Acton, Massachusetts, Terri Christensen and her husband Darrell, of Dakota City, Iowa, and Ryan Shaw and Cindy of Milford. She is also survived by her brother, Howard H. Heikens; brother-in-law, Donald B. Larsen, nieces, nephews and many friends.