Shirley Lighty

Shirley Lighty

Delhi

Shirley Lighty, 87, of Manchester, formerly of Delhi, died Thursday, April 13, 2023, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester.

Celebration of Life services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, at the United Methodist Church in Buck Creek with the Rev. Keith Pitts officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Manchester. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 17, at the Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello. By visiting goettschonline.com, you may share your thoughts, memories, stories and condolences.

Shirley Mae Whannel was born on Sept. 6, 1935, in Traer, the daughter of John and Hazel (Hatton) Whannel. She attended Traer schools and graduated from Traer High School in the Class of 1953. She then attended Iowa State Teachers College, which later became the University of Northern Iowa, graduating in 1957. She taught in the communities of Olin and Delhi and on March 29, 1959, she was united in marriage to Perry Lighty at the United Methodist Church in Traer. Together they farmed and raised their family south of Delhi. She would later work at CRST in Manchester and the Delhi Savings Bank, which later became Heritage Bank, for 23 years.

She was a member of the Buck Creek United Methodist Church, where she loved to play the piano, and the Delhi Women’s Club. She was an avid reader and enjoyed sewing and quilting, but above all she loved to spend time with her family.

She is remembered by her children, Melody (Dale) Lohf, Perry S. Lighty and John (Becky) Lighty; grandchildren, Landon Lohf, Kelsey (Blaine) Hawkins, Paige (Blake Jack) Lohf, Joi (David) Ferckel, Perry J. (Alicia) Lighty, Tony (Cyndi) Lighty, Sherri (Tristan) Miles, Rachel (Adam) Kucera and Mikaela (Coleton Byers) Lighty; great-grandchildren, Brahn, Chase, Eloise, Carter, Karson, Kambree, Cashton, Alexia, Alyvia. Peyton, Perri, Brooklyn, Cadence, Reid, Oliver and Ryker; sisters, Sharon Bolt and Mary (Vic) McKinley; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; brothers-in-law, Larry Bolt and Arnie Sandbick; and a niece, Cindy Sivertsen.

Memorial may be directed to the Stead Family Childrens Hospital at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics or to the Delhi Volunteer Fire Department.

Shirley family would like to thank the Good Neighbor Home as well as Above and Beyond Hospice for the wonderful loving care she received.