Shirley Kay (Shaver) Fisher, the second of seven children of Dale and Fern (Adamson) Shaver was born October 1, 1942, near Grovespring, Missouri. She departed her earthly life May 26, 2022, at the Hartville Care Center, Hartville, Missouri with her loving husband and her two daughters by her side. Shirley had attained the age of 79 years, 7 months, and 25 days.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, David Barr; brother, Carlos Shaver; and brothers-in-law, Vernon Jones, Leamon Buttram, and Carl Barr. She is survived by her husband, Elvin Fisher; daughters, Lanette Fisher and Linda Barr; sisters, Carlee Jones, Pauline Buttram, Freda Barr, and Karen VanNess and her husband, Floyd; brother, Wallace Shaver and his wife, Allison; sister-in-law, Sheila Shaver; sister-in-law, Sharon Ottendorf and her husband, Bob; many nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors.
Shirley grew up in the Grovespring area and attended Luallin School, completing her formal education at the end of the eighth grade. Always being a supportive sister, she is remembered for crying just because one of her siblings cried.
Shirley was married April 7, 1967, to Elvin Lee Fisher. Shortly thereafter, Elvin and Shirley made their home on Highway 38 west of Hartville. Daughters Carol Lanette and Linda Kay were born, and Shirley became a supportive and devoted mother. She sewed many matching dresses for the girls and traded sewing patterns with other mothers. Shirley was a room mother for all their parties in elementary school and seldom, if ever, missed any school event they were involved in.
In August of 1974, Elvin and Shirley began selling feed from the garage of their home. Through the years the business has evolved into Fisher Feed and Farm Supply, a well-known business serving Wright County and the surrounding area. Shirley was instrumental in starting the business with Elvin and worked every day they were open until December 3, 2021, when her health no longer permitted. She did whatever had to be done, including payroll, tax records, keeping up with permits, paying bills, and other figuring, all by hand and with an eighth-grade education. She is remembered for predicting when a customer would need feed, knowing how to give directions to the feed truck drivers, and how long it should take them to get to a particular farm. In her later years, as Lanette and Linda took on a bigger role in the business, Shirley was up on the go helping customers. After she became disabled, she did her work sitting on a stool behind the counter and always had a kind word for the customers who came in.
Shirley was saved at an early age at Vacation Bible School at Elk Creek Baptist Church and later baptized. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Hartville. She enjoyed going to church, singings, and other church activities. Shirley might have told you that work was her only hobby, but “if there was anywhere to go, she was ready to go.” It might have been going on trips or a cruise with Elvin when they received awards for feed sales, going after closing time to pick up something they needed, going to church and church activities, going to social gatherings of family and friends, or just riding from the house to the store in the Gator with Lanette, but Shirley was always on the go if she had the chance.
Shirley Fisher will be greatly missed for her unwavering support and love for her family and her friendliness and enjoyment of people. The many people who came in contact with Shirley in any way agree their lives are blessed by having known her.
