Shirley Hawker Bingham
Shirley Bingham Obit 3-15-12
Born March 16, 1914 in East Mill Creek, Shirley Hawker Bingham was the daughter of Robert Samuel and Lois Edna Goodwin Hawker. She belonged to a family that would grow to 12; Lois, Elva, Ethel, Verda, Samuel, Eva and Chloe (who both died as infants), Delton, Gladys, Preston and Leda. When Shirley was 5 years old, her family moved to a farm in the community of Springfield, Idaho, where she learned to work to survive. Shirley's childhood was spent herding sheep, which gave her a great love and understanding for nature, and helping in the family garden which gave her a love for growing things. That love carried into her adult life and gave her the ability to turn every home she lived in into a lovely and productive garden spot. She received her early education in Springfield and Moreland, Idaho, and graduated from high school in Blackfoot, Idaho. She then attended business school in Salt Lake City, and after graduating returned to live and work in Idaho Falls, Idaho, as a medical secretary. On March 23, 1939 she married Walter Gordon Phillips in the Salt Lake Temple. They made their home in the community of Woodville, Idaho, for many years where they raised their only child, Mauna Lois. In 1972 their marriage ended in divorce. On April 2, 1976 Shirley married Perry E. Bingham. He passed away in 1979. In 1980 she retired after many years of employment at the Atomic Energy Commission near Idaho Falls, and shortly after that she moved to Tooele to be near her daughter and her grandchildren. Shirley was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many positions. She was a wonderful teacher, and especially enjoyed working with the youth. She served a mission in the South Carolina Columbia Mission, and served two family history missions in Salt Lake City. Shirley loved gardening, and especially loved her flowers. She also loved to travel, read, crochet, quilt and was an avid genealogist. She was challenged by many health problems throughout her life, but the greatest challenge was the loss of her sight in her last years, which forced her to give up the things she loved to do and her home, and to move to the Remington Park Apartments, where she spent her final 10 years surrounded by many good friends. A fall in Nov. 2011 led to her move to the Rocky Mountain Care Center in Tooele where she passed away March 14. Shirley is survived by her daughter, Mauna Aagard, of Tooele, her grandchildren, Kimberly Aagard of Murray, Andrew (Kristy) Aagard of Stansbury Park, Vanessa (Brian) Lucas of Fruitland, Nathan (Katja) Aagard of Eagle Mountain, and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters, Gladys Robbins of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Leda (Ballard) White of Provo, brother, Robert Delton (Donna) Hawker of Blackfoot, Idaho, sisters-in-law, Joanne Hawker, Blackfoot, Idaho, and LaVern Hawker, Pocatello. She was preceded in death by son-in-law, Lance Aagard, her parents, six sisters and two brothers. Services will be held on Friday at 2 p.m. at Tate Mortuary. Interment in the Tooele City Cemetery. According to Shirley's wishes, no viewing will be held.