Shirley Grubbs

Shirley Lovan Grubbs, son of James Clifton and Tera (Rakestraw) Grubbs, was born, October 28, 1930, in Tupelo, Mississippi. He served in the Army and soon thereafter began working in rock quarries. Shirley started working in Michigan City, IN for Phillips Drill working on the drill press. While there, he also worked hauling mobile homes from Indiana to Wisconson and hauling mobile homes back to Indiana. He then moved to Council Bluffs, IA where he worked for Kaiser Corporation and in 1974 was transferred to Knoxville, IA with Kaiser. Shirley married Karen Rae Pennington in 1970 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1979 Shirley and Karen moved to Oskaloosa and he began working for Durhum quarry and then Harvey quarry near Linville. He worked in both open pit and underground mines. He loved working at excavation and mainly served as the driller. Throughout the years he invented new techniques, making excavation more efficient and less dangerous. Macular degeneration robbed him of his eye sight in 1995 and he was forced to retire. Shirley loved to be busy: after he couldn’t work at the quarry he helped his son with wood cutting; he also enjoyed working on small engines and loved tinkering with lawn mowers. His family includes his wife, Karen Grubbs of University Park; his daughter, Karen Rae (Bud) Johnson of Eddyville; his son, Rusty Lyn (Shelly) Grubbs of Rose Hill, IA; grandsons: Alexander and Luke Grubbs of Rose Hill, IA, Ryan (Charlene) Wagner of Waxhaw, NC, Nicholas Wagner of Durham, NC, Stephen Wagner of Washington and three granddaughters, Elizabeth (Clinton) Roberts of Beacon, IA, Holly (Dan) Dean of Tennessee and Kaitlynn Musgrove of Des Moines, IA; five great-grandsons, Jacob, Noah and Aiden Roberts of Beacon, IA, Taylor Wagner of Waxhaw, NC and Landon Dean of Tennessee; a great-granddaughter Taylor Dean of Tennessee; a brother, Buddy Grubbs of Palmetto, MS; and two step-sons, John (Tracy) Wagner and David Wagner, both of Kansas City, MO. In addition to his parents, Shirley was preceded in death by a son, Robert Wayne Musgrove and seven siblings: Frances Presley, Carolyn Hester, Burna Evans, Erma Lee McBride, Spurgeon Grubbs, Doc Grubbs, and James “Grubby” Grubbs. As was his wish, his body has been cremated. Burial will occur at a late time. Memorials may be made to MHP Hospice Serenity House. Memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting gvlfuneralchapel.com. PDF Printable Version

Shirley Grubbs

October 28, 1930 - December 16, 2014