Shirley Jean Moffitt, 96, of Walnut Shade.

Shirley Jean Moffitt, 96, of Walnut Shade, Missouri.

A beloved mother and friend went to her heavenly home on September 15, 2024.

She was born on January 12, 1928, in Davenport, Iowa, to Claude and Arvilla (Stellrecht) Wisdom and married the love of her life, William "Bill" Moffitt, on November 23, 1962.

Shirley and Bill in 1972 settled in the Branson, Missouri, area with their children. There, they owned and together managed Homestead Campground and Mrs. Santa's Shop. Later, she had a craft booth in Coffelt Country Crossroads village and worked for local attractions, such as The Plumber Family and Wilderness Safari, and finally retired from Garrison Accounting.

Shirley enjoyed many hobbies, including cake decorating, going to yard sales, crafting, and camping, and was an avid collector of antique dolls, children's dishes, and toy sewing machines.

She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church Branson, where she played the organ, sang with the church choir, played in the handbell choir, ran a children’s puppet ministry, and participated in the church’s living Christmas Tree program.

She was also a founding member of Taney County’s food pantry, CAM. After retirement, she worked with preschool children in Awana and helped with a teddy bear ministry to comfort local children in crisis. Even when her eyesight failed her, she continued to stuff bears.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brothers, Claude Jr., William, and Ronald Wisdom.

She is survived and sorely missed by her sisters: Ruth Burkert and Joyce Evans; children: Jerry Brubaker, Virginia (Ron) Potter, Jeanne Gates, and stepson, Mike (Joyce) Moffitt; her eleven grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Burial Service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, October 21, 2024, at National Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Branson, Missouri. Instead of money or flowers, please choose to donate to one of Shirley’s favorite charities:

Christian Action Ministries (CAM): https://www.christianactionministries.org/get-involved

Ozarks Food Harvest: https://ozarksfoodharvest.org/donate/

Gideon Bibles: https://www.gideons.org/donate

Options Pregnancy Clinic: https://optionspregnancyclinic.com/

Arrangements and cremation are under direction of Cremations of the Ozarks. To leave an online condolence or share a memory, please visit www.cremationsoftheozarks.com.

Don’t Weep for Me

Don’t weep for me, 

For I’ve made it home 

Through Heaven’s gates 

There I may roam. 

Wipe your tears 

And dry your eyes. 

I’m in a better place 

With Heaven as my prize. 

Don’t weep for me. 

No tears and no sorrow, 

Live life for Jesus. 

He promises tomorrow. 

~Author Unknown