Shirley Blades

Shirley Awana Blades, age 67, was born March 28, 1954, at Leon, Iowa to Neil and Evelyn Mae (Rumley) Butcher. She died at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.

Shirley grew up and attended school in Leon, Iowa through her junior year. On June 5, 1971, Shirley and David Eugene Blades were united in marriage at her parents’ home in Leon. They started their married life together in Mount Ayr, Iowa where she attended her senior year, graduating from Mount Ayr High School in 1972. Then they moved to Creston, Iowa where they both attended classes at Southwestern Community College, she in bookkeeping and him in welding. They later returned to Decatur County, Iowa and finally settled in Leon. They were blessed with two sons, Joshua David and Justin Eugene.

During her life Shirley worked as an aide at the Decatur County Hospital, a secretary at Graceland College, a cook at Andrew’s Café, and retired from the Decatur County Sheriff’s office as a dispatcher after 17 years of service. In her free time, Shirley enjoyed crocheting and collecting and selling books and other items. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Neil and Evelyn Butcher; sister, Connie Butcher; and nephew, Mike Butcher. Survivors include her husband of 49 years, David Blades of Leon, Iowa; sons, Josh Blades and wife, Angie, of Leon and Justin Blades and companion, Jaimy Klever, of Kellerton, Iowa; grandchildren, Austin Blades and fiancé, Keri, Baylen Blades, Madison Blades and companion, Ben, Allison Blades, Jadi Blades, Natalie Blades, Ira Blades, Rusty Blades, William Boswell, and Gabriel Boswell; great grandchildren, twins Hattie and Kinsley Blades, Claira Blades, and Wade and Ryder Henson; brothers, Terry and Sherri Butcher and Claudie and Candy Butcher, all of Leon; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Memorial services will be held at Trinity Christian Church, Decatur, Iowa at 10 a.m. Friday, April 30, 2021, with Pastor Terry D. Roberts officiating. Interment will be held at a later date. An open visitation will be held 2-7 p.m. Thursday, April 29, at the Slade – O’Donnell Funeral Home in Leon.