Violet Irene Findlay age 88 of Fairfield, passed away Friday, April 22, 2022, at Briarwood Rehabilitation Center, Iowa City, IA.
Violet was born July 21, 1933, in Birmingham to Harley F. and Ila W. (Brandt) Shipley. She married Hugh D. Findlay on June 25, 1955. He passed away October 12, 1999.
Violet graduated from Birmingham High School in 1952. She was a cook at the Fairfield Junior High and later head cook at the Libertyville School. The family was blessed to have Violet’s delicious food at family dinners and gatherings. She made the best breads and cinnamon rolls.
Violet belonged to the Red Hats, Libertyville Travelers and a card club. She collected Beanie Babies, did word puzzles and crocheted many baby afghans. Violet enjoyed watching westerns, game shows and listening to country music.
She lived by bowing her head with the right proper attitude and just kept getting it done. Day by day. Year by year. Lonely moment, then lovely moment, woven into a tapestry of caring for two additional generations as well as she cared for the first.
One of her grandsons said “I thought today of a fundamental truth I’ve thought about over the years: I could never be as good a grandson as she was a grandmother…. Because that’s how life is supposed to work. By the time I get there, I hope to be as good a human as she was, to have carried her magic forward long enough, meaningfully enough, so that a few generations from now will know a Violet Findlay kind of love.”
Violet will be missed by her children, Daniel (Deanna) Findlay of Bondurant, IA, Debra Findlay of Fairfield, IA and Barbara (Tim) Sieren of Ottumwa, IA; 4 grandsons, Daniel Findlay Jr and Brandon (Tina) Findlay, Benjamin Harris (Shaena Powell), and Jackson Harris (Rusty Tackenberg); two great grandchildren, Jacey Harris and Grady Harris.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harley and Ila; husband, Hugh Findlay; daughter, Nancy Findlay; brother, Harley “Bud” Shipley; and twin sister, Viola Shipley.
Visitation for family & friends will be 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Friday, April 29, 2022, at Behner Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Behner Funeral Home with Pastor Sheila Parcel Smith officiating. Cremation will follow the service. Inurnment will be at a later date in Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Douds, Iowa.
A memorial has been established in Violet’s name.
Online condolences may be made to the family at behnerfh.com.
