Shirley Bayless

Shirley Bayless, age 73, of Carroll, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City.   Funeral service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, August 27, 2018 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll with Pastor Brian Licht and Shirley’s son Pastor Andrew Bayless officiating.  Music will be by John Panning as organist and soloist will be Marv Toft.  Casket bearers will be Michael Younge, Scott Ryg, Jeff Ryg, Ralph Von Qualen, Dale Schmidt, and Joe Eisenbacher.  Honorary casket bearers will be Arden Kohorst, Phill Renze, and Jeff Lower.  Burial will be in the Carroll City Cemetery.   Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll after 5:00 P.M. on Sunday where there will be a prayer service held at 7:00 P.M.  The casket will be moved to the church at 9:30 A.M. on Monday where visitation will resume until the time of service.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to World Mission Prayer League and may be left with the funeral home or the church.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com. Shirley Elaine Bayless, daughter of Frank and Edith (Hollatz) Poohl, was born June 21, 1945, in Mason City, IA. Shirley spent her childhood there and graduated from Mason City High School in 1963.  After high school she attended The University of Northern Iowa, receiving a teaching degree in Elementary Education. Shirley taught elementary school in Sioux City, IA from 1967-1974 and when her children were born she transitioned from her teaching career to being home full-time with her three children.  On August 16, 1969, Shirley was united in marriage to Larry Lee Bayless in Mason City. Their first years of marriage were spent in Sioux City and in Ida Gove, IA. Larry and Shirley eventually made their home in Carroll in 1978.  They purchased a home on the northwest side of town and remained in that same home for the rest of their marriage. It was in Carroll where they primarily raised their three children, together. Shirley enjoyed gardening and she was excellent at it. Her home was beautified with flowers and plants both inside and out. She was a lifelong learner whose passion to explore and grow was inspiring. Shirley’s faith in Jesus Christ was evident in her life. She trusted in the Triune God and believed that by the gift of faith alone that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are the only way that sin-filled people can be redeemed by God and restored to perfection, as was intended by God for all creation in the beginning. She and Larry passed this faith down to their children and to their grandchildren. Shirley and her family were members at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll. There she witnessed the baptisms of two of her children, saw all three children confirm their faith in Jesus, taught Sunday School, Confirmation, and VBS, she sang in the choir, tended to flowers, was the church librarian, and worshiped the LORD and received His gifts. Shirley also served many neighbors in her community through serving with organizations such as Meal’s On Wheels and New Hope Village. She and Larry shared a global vision too, of the Good News of Jesus going out to all people, from all sorts of languages, customs and tribes. This global vision was manifested in their support (prayerfully and financially) of missionaries who were sent to share the Good News of Jesus in far-off places.    Just a few days ago, on August 16, 2018, Larry and Shirley celebrated 49 years of marriage. Shirley entered into rest with her Lord and Savior on August 21, 2018.  She died at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics after battling cancer.  She was 73 years of age.    She is survived by her husband: Larry Bayless of 40 years of Carroll; her three children: Suzanne Eckhardt (Marcus) of Iowa City, Benjamin Bayless of Houston, TX, and Andrew Bayless (Ashley) St. Louis, MO; her two grandchildren: Joel and Judah; her sister Bonnie Younge (Gary) of Thornton, IA, her brother Roger Poohl (Delores) of Osage, IA, and her Sister Sharon Ryg of Clear Lake; three nephews, and three nieces. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Edith Poohl; her father-in-law Harold Bayless; and her mother-in-law Bernice Bayless.