SHIRLEY MAE BRAND

Shirley Mae (Comer) Brand, fifth child of seven born to Rolla Bryan and Florence Marjorie (Smith) Comer, was born January 13, 1939. Growing up in Ringgold County, she attended school in Maloy through the eighth grade; one semester at Redding, IA during her freshman year and the remainder of her education was at Mount Ayr High School. Shirley graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1957.
Following graduation, Shirley moved to Des Moines, IA and she worked at Equitable Life Society. While there, she was introduced to the man of her life, Alvin Lee Brand, by a mutual friend. Shirley and Lee were married on November 16, 1958. They lived in Des Moines until Lee accepted employment at Rideta Electric Cooperative on January 1, 1959, as a lineman.
Shirley stayed home until she started working for Draper Produce doing bookkeeping. They closed and she was busy with her four children for the next several years. She always had a ballgame to go to or other activities that the kids were in. Shirley worked at Gunter’s Jewelry Store, Smith Jewelry, Mitchell Jewelry and Small Corral. Shirley loved to sew, bowl, play cards, cook, shop and made quilts for all the kids, grandkids and great grandkids. She made all kinds of crafts and she loved to dance!
She ‘officially’ retired in 1996 when Lee retired, and they loved spending time in South Texas in the winter months and visiting relatives and friends. Shirley was active in the United Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday School and was the church treasurer. She was also the bowling league treasurer.
Shirley passed away November 7, 2021, while wintering at Donna, TX. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bryan and Marjorie Comer; siblings, Myrtle (husband, John Cook), Margaret (husband, Darrell Browns), Rolla Ray Comer, Allen “Bud” Comer (wife, Ruby), Ethel Akers; great granddaughter, Addison Grace Noble; parents-in-law, Lewis and Madge Brand; brothers and sisters-in-law, Harold Brand, Clyde (Rosie) Brand, Earl Brand, Lois (Ainslee) Triggs, Margaret Brand, Dean Brand, Robert Schafer, Lyle Gilliland, Walter Cobb.
Survivors include her husband, Lee Brand, children, Sheila (Gary) Janssen, Mary Brand, Ken (Kim) Brand, Ron (Rhonda) Brand; grandchildren, Emily (Matt) Luymes, Ashley (Ryan) Noble, Kirby Chapman, Danielle (Donny) Gorman, Jennifer Chapman, Julia Brand, Colby (Janine) Brand, Madi (Ethan) Cowell, Tate (Michelle) Brand, Wyatt Brand, Cyndi (Brandy) Fekete, Neesie Brand, Cassie Brand, Connor Heavner; great grandchildren, Brilee and Addison Gorman, Cordell, Marques and Brianna Flenorl, Greyson Zakovich, Alana Zarrillo, Lincoln and Hudson Noble, Owen Brand, Janssen, Theo and Abram Luymes, Charli and Ellie Fekete; brother, Bryan Merl (Marjorie) Comer; brothers and sisters-in-laws, Paul (Georgia) Brand, Wilma Schafer, Jean Gilliland, Betty Cobb; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Services were at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, IA.
Officiating was Pastor Bill Armstrong.
Music was “How Great Thou Art”, “Amazing Grace” and “Waltz Across Texas”.
Casketbearers were Colby Brand, Tate Brand, Wyatt Brand, Donny Gorman, Brandy Fekete and Ethan Cowell.
Honorary pallbearers were Matt Luymes, Dave Brand, Ryan Noble and Jim Brand.
Burial was at the Rose Hill Cemetery at Mount Ayr, IA.
Memorials are to the Tingley Meal Site and Senior Activity Center.