Shirley Lee Walker, 87, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on February 10, 2025, at Morrison Woods Health Campus following an extended illness. She was surrounded by family at the time of her passing.

She was born January 25, 1938, in Muncie, the daughter of the late Kenneth and Gladys (Feazel) Duff. With her parents, she and her younger sisters Nancy and Janet attended Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, south of Hartford City.

Shirley grew up with her immediate family on a farm east of Eaton, Indiana, and was the secretary of her 1956 graduating class at Eaton High School. At a young age, she had announced her plans to become a schoolteacher. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Ball State Teachers College in 1959 and her Master of Arts degree from Ball State University in 1968. Her teaching career spanned almost three decades: teaching English and history at Harrison Township High School in Gaston briefly, and then seventh and eighth grade English at North Del (later Delta) Middle School.

One of her favorite experiences was an opportunity to instruct college students at Minot State University in Minot, ND, during the 1993-1994 school year, accompanying her second husband, Dr. Richard Walker. She received a one-year educational leave to pursue this, and she spoke of the positive impact it had on her and her students until her last days.

She was a loving and active mom to her children Lance, Scott, and Dawn. She loved golfing, playing tennis, and going for bike rides with them in their youth and attending the shows Dawn directed at Delta High School, where Shirley was known as the "Queen Mother" by some of Dawn's students.

Shirley loved the people she worked with over the years, maintaining friendships with her school colleagues and former students throughout her life. She was also lifelong friends with several of her classmates from Eaton.

After her retirement, Shirley and Richard enjoyed traveling and square dancing, and Shirley loved spending time with her six grandchildren. She only had the opportunity to meet one of her great-grandchildren in person, but she loved all three and enjoyed watching videos and seeing pictures of them.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her son Lance Replogle, her sister Nancy Runkle, and her nephew Tony Runkle. She is survived by her husband Dr. Richard Walker; her sister Janet (Gene) Ross; her children Scott Replogle and Dawn (Chris) Raleigh; Scott's children Malarie and Kiersten; Dawn's children Chandler, Andrew, Abigail, and Samantha; and Kiersten's children Bailee, Oaklee, and Jaxton. She is also survived by countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Shirley's family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at Morrison Woods Health Campus and Heart to Heart Hospice for their dedication and support during the last few months.

Friends and family are invited to gather from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, February 20 at the Garden View Funeral Home, 10501 North State Road 3, Muncie, Indiana. The funeral service will be at 12.pm. Friday, February 21 at the Garden View Funeral Home, with burial following at the Gardens of Memory Cemetery.