Shirley JoeAnn (Coatney) Fry

Shirley JoeAnn (Coatney) Fry, age 89, of Albia, IA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at Good Samaritan in Ottumwa, IA, with her family at her side. Shirley was born on January 14, 1936, to Jesse and Margaret (Adams) Coatney in Centerville, IA. She attended Centerville High School. On September 6, 1953, Shirley married the love of her life, Jackie Lee Fry Sr. in Jerome, IA. They were married for 52 blissful years. Out of this union, they had 3 wonderful children, Jackie, James (Bucky) and Sabrina. The family lived in Centerville, Indianola, and Russell. They settled in Albia in 1976 where she resided the rest of her life. Shirley worked for many years as a restaurateur where she made many lifelong friends. She owned and operated Blue Bird Café in Albia, the café at the hotel in Albia, J Stop & Shop in Lovilia, The Albia Cafe in Albia, Cozy Corner in Moravia, and the Lake Thunderhead Marina in Unionville, MO. Her final position was at the Continental Assisted Living in Centerville as a cook until she retired at the age of 78 in 2014. Shirley loved her work and thoroughly enjoyed working with the public. Shirley was an active member of the Eagles Auxiliary 3583. People will always remember her Texas Tacos. She also volunteered for several charities. In her free time, she loved to spend time with her family. She enjoyed having company at her house. She spent a lot of time with her grandchildren and loved having them around. She really enjoyed going on vacation with Jack to places like New Orleans, Fort Lauderdale, San Antonio, Disney World and Colorado. After Jack passed, she vacationed with friends and family to Germany, Hawaii, and a Bahamas cruise. Shirley is survived by her sister, Bonnie Coatney Amundson; a son, James “Bucky” (Mary Pat) Fry; her granddaughters, Tina (Ryan) Vosberg and Melissa (Tim) Dennison; 3 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jackie Lee Fry Sr; a son, Jackie Lee Fry Jr.; a daughter, Sabrina LuAnn (Fry) Hopkins; a grandchild, Stephanie Hopkins; her parents, Jesse and Margaret Coatney; and siblings, Rev. W Russell Coatney, Doyle Frances Coatney, Ruby (Coatney) Kuzik, Julia (Coatney) Mooney, Wanda (Schaffer) Strange, Glada (Schaffer) Hall, Doris (Schaffer) Mahan, Franklin Schaffer, Clayton Schaffer, Darriel Lee Coatney, Janite (Coatney) Holmes, Jerry Coatney, Ruth (Coatney) Arnold, and a stillborn brother. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Shirley’s family present from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. to greet family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia. Burial will follow services at Haines Cemetery in Centerville, IA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Make A Wish Foundation that Shirley was very fond of.

Shirley JoeAnn (Coatney) Fry

January 14, 1936 - March 23, 2025