Shirley Garver

Shirley Garver was born July 1, 1936 in Three Forks, MT to John Nikles and Kathryn Hafner. Her father worked for the railroad, so they moved often. She went to school in Whitehall, MT. When she was 17 she visited Council, ID with some relatives and was introduced to Ed Garver. They fell in love and Ed made a trip over to Montana to visit Shirley in the hospital when she contracted polio. Ed proposed to her and they were married on February 6, 1954. Ed worked in logging at first and they lived on his grandparents’ ranch. They eventually moved into town where Ed got hired at the mill. They added on to the McGregor house across from the school as their family grew to three children. They had dinner together as a family, even eating at 3:00 p.m. when Ed worked the swing shift.

Shirley enjoyed playing cards and Bingo and going out for coffee with friends. She was an avid reader and crocheted potholders. She was a member of the Lions Club and the local sorority, as well as a long-time member of the Council Community Church, where she and Ed participated on mission trips to Mexico. She went on a trip to Switzerland in 1976 to see her relatives. She and Ed spent their 25th anniversary in Hawaii and several winters in Arizona. They also took family trips to Jackson Hole, Yellowstone, California, Oregon and Kansas.

Later in life, Shirley used a cart to get around, going on shopping trips to the valley where her family had to have their running shoes on to keep up with her. She would also take her cart off road on their fishing trips to Lost Lake. She and Ed enjoyed going to their grandchildren’s sporting events and celebrating Christmas with her famous oyster stew.

Surrounded by her family, Shirley went to be with the Lord on December 6, 2024 in McCall, Idaho. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Ed, her parents, and her brother John. She is survived by her sister Patty (Chuck), daughter Darcie (Byron) Hallett, son John Garver, daughter Sandra (David) Hoxie, grandchildren Guy (Melodie) Hallett, Skye Hallett, Michael (Nakita) Garver, Steven Garver, Justin Hoxie, Krista (Jacob) Wilson, 11 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on January 25 at 1:00 p.m. at Council Community Church.

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