Shirley Ann (Finfrock ) Elam

Shirley passed away Dec. 20, 2014 peacefully with her granddaughter Kristen House by her side. She is now with her lord.  

She fought a hard battle from several surgeries from a broken leg after a fall at home. Shirley was 74 years young when she left the ones she loved.    

Shirley was born Feb.y 15, 1940 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Roy and Eulabelle Thompson. Shirley was raised by her grandmother, Icy Hull, after her parents divorced. She moved to Cook, Neb. when her mother remarried to her new dad, Philip Doeden.  

Shirley and her brother, Floyd, were then joined by her sister, Janice, and brother, Danny, that she helped raised from being born premature.  

On their farm, Shirley milked the cows and tended to the 300 plus chickens with her mother and gathered the eggs. She attended a country school where she has the bell to this day that she used to ring every day.  

Shirley married Clarence Finfrock in April 1959. She later moved to Whitefish. They built their own home on the property they bought. She loved her home and still had her chickens.

Together they had three children, Scott Finfrock, Bonnie Finfrock and Sue Lytle.

After the death of Clarence, Shirley re-married on Aug. 3, 1985 to Jerry Elam which brought in to more daughters to the family, Corina and Nickie.  

They helped raise two grandkids, Timmy and Kristen House.

After Jerry passed away in 1997, Shirley fought and won the battle with breast cancer.

She was gifted a great-granddaughter, Audree, that was born premature that she helped raise after spending five months in the hospital.

Over the years Shirley enjoyed watching her daughter and granddaughters show their horses in 4-H and in other shows. She had the best advice to give, just try hard, do your best and have fun.

Shirley sure enjoyed entering all her exhibits in the local fair including her grand champion scare crow and her prize winning rooster. Watching her son restore old cars and watching her daughter work horses were a big joy for her to see the finished project.

Shirley is survived by her three children; grandkids, Kristen, Timmy House; great-granddaughters, Audree Mclaughlin that she loved so dearly, Gabriel and Tiffany Pena she loved spending the time she had with them; grandson, Rick Pena; step-daughter, Nicki Boykin; and her family, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Shirley leaves behind three great friends, Karen Stevens, Doris Anderson and Roxie Irwin.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, her brother and a step-daughter.

Services will be June 20, 2015 at the family home in Whitefish at 1 p.m. at 210 Reservoir Rd., with a potluck reception following the service. Any memories and condolences may be sent to the family at 210 Reservoir Rd., Whitefish, Montana 59937.

Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of the Austin Funeral Home.

Our loving mother is so greatly missed. We love you mom and granny poo.