FAITH SHINKLE

Faith Jewell Lamoreaux entered this world in Mount Ayr, Iowa on September 8, 1926 and was born and raised by Colorado pioneers Alvin Roy Lamoreaux and Mavia Fern Hollingsworth Lamoreaux; joining an older sister, Eva Carol.
As the daughter of a World War I veteran and rural mail carrier in Ringgold County, she spent many hours with her father in a mule drawn mail wagon.
At age 2, she showed her musical talents appearing on the Princess Theater stage as Little Miss New Year. She, and her father Alvin, who played in Mount Ayr’s legion band with Claire Rhoades, often entertained at functions with playful skits and antics.
Faith graduated from Mount Ayr High school where she sang in choir and performed at stage contests. She and her sister Carol were frequent Sunday singers on KMA radio in Shenandoah.
After graduation, she taught country school at Lesanville, driving a horse-drawn buggy on early winter mornings to get the wood stove burning before the children arrived.
In 1945, at the tender age of 19, she married Robert E. Ferguson to whom five children, Carol Anne, Bob, Harlie, Joyce, and Grace were born.
In the following years, she was a pastor’s wife, mother, and piano player serving Advent Christian churches in Burr Oak, Villisca, Malvern, Iowa and Hoyt, Kansas.
After a divorce in 1956, Faith and her children moved to Claibourne, Ohio to be near her parents who were pastoring an Advent Christian church there. Faith led her children to active roles in the church, playing the organ and leading the youth group.
In 1959, Faith married Willis Shinkle bringing four more teens, Rose Ann, David, Daryl, and Reba to the household. There was never a dull moment, with blended family to raise and with Willie organizing a family gospel singing group who performed at local and Midwest churches and gospel events.
In 1971, Faith and Willie moved to Mount Ayr, starting an electrical and appliance business and gift shop. Later, life led them to Omaha and Golden, MO for 18 years. After retirement, they returned to Mount Ayr in 2004.
Faith played the piano and organ at every church she attended, the last being Free Methodist, Hickory Grove Advent Christian, Assembly of God, and Wishard Chapel Community Church. She was also choir director and children’s choirs and Sunday school class teacher. As Youth Group leader in Claibourne, many youths had lots of fun and gave their lives to Christ.
One of her most favorite personal ministries was amateur clowning, acting out God’s principles in the church setting bringing joy and laughter to many souls. She wrote her own scripts for two characters, Bubbles the Clown and Silly Sally. She began her clown activities while living in Missouri and continued it in Iowa until her health limited her mobility. She was certainly unique and one of a kind and a living example of God’s love and eternal care. Even as a nursing home resident, she spread love, compassion, music and her faith with staff, residents, and family.
Faith Jewel Lamoreaux Ferguson Shinkle passed away January 19, 2018. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Robert E. Ferguson and Willis M. Shinkle; sister Carol Weeda; son-in-law Tom Rutan.
She is survived by five children, Carol Anne (Jim) McCreary, Robert (Lanelle) Ferguson, Harlie (Jo Anne) Ferguson, Joyce (Ronnie) Gregg, and Grace (Mike) Warin; four step-children David (Verna) Shinkle, Rose Ann Rutan, Daryl (Judy) Shinkle, Reba Shinkle McBride; 18 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Services were held on Monday, January 22, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa.
Officianting the service was Pastor Bill Armstrong.
Scripture and memories were given by Harlie Ferguson and Robert Ferguson.
Pianist was Nancy Sackett. Special songs were: “Love Lifted Me” and “She’s Better Now”. Faith’s Witness and Music “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You” and “He is Lord”.
Casketbears were Mark Gregg, Thomas Bradley, Edward McCreary, Alvin Ferguson, Jeffrey Ferguson, Joshua Ferguson, Dustin Jackson, Nial Belzer, Brent Wurster, and Richard Shinkle. Honorary pallbeareres were Faith’s 40 great-grandchildren.
Faith was laid to rest at the Tingley Cemetery at Tingley, Iowa.
Memorial fund was to Claibourne, Ohio Advent Christian Church and Wishard Chapal Community Church.