Shirley E. Smith

Shirley E. Smith, 90, of Mason City passed away on January 26, 2026. A celebration of life will be planned for a later date this spring. Memorials may be directed to the Lime Creek Nature Center and the Mason City Public Library.

Shirley Elaine (Fredrickson) Smith was born October 15, 1935 in Algona, Iowa. Her parents were Bill and Viola (Bagne) Fredrickson. Her first home was on the family farm near Britt, Iowa. While living there, two sisters were born, Barbara and Donna. Getting crowded, the family moved to a farm near Eagle Grove, Iowa. While they lived there, a tragedy struck their little country school—polio. Barbara died and Shirley was disabled. The school closed permanently later that year, leading to another move to a farm near Forest City. Another girl was born before the move, Mary Ann. The children went to the Forest City Schools. Soon little Bill was born, and the family was complete.

Shirley was involved in usual school things: plays, 4H, book clubs, et cetera. In her senior year, a young soldier, Eugene, came into the picture, and they married after graduation on October 15, 1954; then her other life began. Five children were born of this union: Mark, Dan (Amy), Matt (Michelle), Michelle (Wayne), and Sara (Ron).

Shirley finished her Bachelor’s of Library Science by many forms: face-to-face, online, and in person. She graduated B.L.S., taking several years. She worked several years at the Mason City Public Library.

The whole family loved camping and the mountains and visited “out West” several times. In later years, she traveled Europe with her sister, Donna and eventually with here husband, Gene.

As they aged, Shirley and Gene traded their big home on East State to an apartment at the Willows. Mark also passed at this time. Gene left his worldly home on February 15, 2022 to wait for his wife to join him. And she did, on January 26, 2026.

Survivors are Matt (Michelle), Dan (Amy), Michelle, and Sara (Ron); also brother Bill and sister Donna, as well as 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Shirley’s son Mark passed in 2019, and her sister Mary Ann in 2023.