Rilla Jean Shires, 83, passed away peacefully at her home in Cottonwood, AZ on Aug. 8, 2012. She was born Oct. 22, 1928 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, but had lived in Arizona since 1962.

Rilla was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Lois DeKay, her husband of 47 years, Dick Shires on January 13, 1996, and her sisters Elizabeth Cary, Edith Mundorf, and Frances Silk.

She is survived by 2 sons and 1 daughter: Dan Shires (Hui Suk) of Albuquerque, Jean Shires and Sam Shires (Madeline) of Cottonwood. Survivors include 5 grandchildren: Chris Shires of Chandler, Cory Shires of Anniston, AL., Mitchell (Teesha) Shires of Albuquerque, Matt (Briana) Shires and Lindsey Shires of Cottonwood, as well as 3 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by 3 brothers - Alan DeKay, Robert DeKay, and David DeKay, and 4 sisters - Ruth Ireland, Mary Neary, Barbara Eshelman, and Jane Pelzer. Also surviving are the brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law- Patricia and Lynn Schaaf and Warder and Sandy Shires.

Rilla loved her family, and was a very proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Most of her life she was a homemaker, but for some years she had also been a church secretary, and later, a preschool teacher. She enjoyed reading, embroidery, beadwork, latch hooking, sewing, and needlepoint. She made many beautiful crafts and works of art for her relatives and friends. She was a lifelong Methodist, and enjoyed volunteering at Mountain View United Methodist Church as a proofreader. One of her favorite things was watching "Jeopardy!" every afternoon, trying to beat the contestants to the answers, which she often did.

A memorial service is planned for 3:00 PM, Wednesday, Aug. 15 at Mountain View United Methodist Church in Cottonwood, AZ. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, Aug. 20, at Hillside Cemetery in Elliott, IA. Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is assisting the family with the local arrangements.