Shirley Stow Obituary
We bid farewell to Shirley Stow of Ames, Iowa, whose journey of life gracefully concluded on November 28, 2025 at the age of 96. Shirley touched countless lives with warmth and kindness, leaving behind cherished memories that will forever echo in hearts. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family.
She was predeceased by: her parents, Coyd Bates and Dorothy Bates (Chambers); her husband Kenneth Stow; her sister Marge; her brother-in-law John Hayes; her brother Gordon Bates; her brother-in-law Delmar Wirth; her brother Larry; and her sister-in-law Jeanne Bates.
She is survived by: her son Kevin Stow (Shelley) of Ames; her grandchildren, Kristopher Stow (Taylor Stoeckler) of Ankeny, Betsy Contreras (Albert) of Ames and Kendall Stow of Minneapolis; her great grandchildren, Robert and James Contreras; her sisters, Marlene Wirth and Keralyn; her siblings-in-law, Fritz Bolliger and Pat Bates; and her brother Ron Bates.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Raising Readers in Story County, P.O. Box 2374, Ames, IA 50010, https://www.raising-readers.org. to benefit early childhood literacy.
