Memorial services will be held April 13 at Churdan United Methodist Church in Churdan for Shirley Drayer, 95, of Jefferson, formerly of Churdan.
The Rev David Arulnathan, pastor of the church, will offer words of comfort. Soloist will be Gary Haupert, accompanied by Rochelle Guess and Renaye Lindgren. Honorary bearers will be Cole McCombs, Carter McCombs, Jeff Drayer, Derek Drayer, Alex Drayer, Cale Drayer and Brody Drayer.
Interment will be at the Dawson Township Cemetery at a later date.
Shirley Gladys Hamann was born October 7, 1926, at Atlantic. She was the daughter of Henry A. Hamann and Joyce W. (Peterson) Hamann. Shirley graduated from Gowrie High School in 1944.
On February 15, 1948, Shirley was united in marriage to Frank Drayer at the Gowrie Methodist Church. The couple enjoyed 68 years of marriage.
Shirley and Frank started their lives together farming near Gowrie. In 1953 they moved to a farm near Churdan where they raised their family of three children: Becki, Jim and Dan.
Shirley was a member of the Churdan United Methodist Church. Through the years, Shirley and Frank loved playing cards and got together with friends for Friday night card parties. Shirley and her best friend Beverly Flack would telephone each other every morning around 8 am to see which of them could unscramble a word puzzle first. Shirley enjoyed entering various contest and was very lucky at winning many prizes. She even won a horse one time! She liked going to the casino, playing Bingo, and loved music and dancing.
She attended many activities of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. At one point, her family comprised five-generations, a notable highlight of her life.
In 1995, Shirley and Frank moved to Jefferson. Shirley worked part-time at the accessor’s office in the courthouse for several years. She also volunteered as a “pink lady” at the Greene County Medical Center.
In 2008 Shirley and Frank moved to the Greenewood retirement apartments. They were generous with their time for others. While living at Greenewood, they delivered congregate meals to their neighbors. Shirley also got groceries for people at Greenewood and took a lady for her weekly hair appointments.
For the past four years, Shirley has been a resident at Regency Park Nursing and Rehab Center in Jefferson. While residing there, she developed many friendships, received great care, and was happy.
Shirley Drayer passed away April 6, 2022, at Regency Park Nursing and Rehab Center at the age of 95 years. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband Frank who died March 22, 2016; her siblings Dorothy Clifton, Hazel Weaver, Ruth Sefcik, John Hamann, and Arthur Hamann; and her grandson Kevin Cunningham who passed away in 1992.
Shirley is survived by her daughter Becki Cunningham and husband Dave of Paton; sons Jim Drayer and wife Cheryl of Dallas, TX, and Dan Drayer of Lincoln, NE; grandchildren Julie (Kelly) McCombs, Jeff (Penny) Drayer, Jill (Joe) Griffith, Tracey (Robby) Robson, Derek (Jamie) Drayer, Alex Drayer, Cale Drayer and Brody Drayer; great-grandchildren Cole (Ali) McCombs, Josie (Quinn Ealy) McCombs, Carter McCombs, Juliet Drayer, Madison Robson, Nolan Drayer, Hannah Drayer , and Everly Drayer ; great-great-granddaughter Camilla Jo McCombs; sister-in-law Doris Mundt of Stratford; other relatives and friends.
