Shirley Jean Rashid, 87, of Burlington, Iowa, formerly of Fort Madison, Iowa, passed away surrounded by her family at 8:25 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at her home in Spirit Hollow, Burlington.

She was born to Joe Wakin and Martha Harris Wakin in Middlesboro, Kentucky, on March 28, 1937. She married George Rashid Jr. of Fort Madison, Iowa, at the St. Julian Catholic Church in Middlesboro on August 13, 1958. She was a member of the Holy Family Parish in Fort Madison; the Thespian Club of Middlesboro High School (’55); and the National Honor Society of the Bowling Green College of Commerce (’57), where she earned her associate degree in business.

As a young woman, Shirley worked as a bookkeeper at an insurance company and was known as “the prettiest girl in all of Middlesboro.”

As a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Shirley was the matriarch of a large Lebanese family. She never forgot a birthday or missed an opportunity to feed (or overfeed) her loved ones with their favorite dishes and desserts rooted in her Lebanese and Southern heritage. In addition to cooking and baking, Shirley loved playing golf, traveling, and spending time with her family and the love of her life, George, with whom she also loved dancing to their song, “The Twelfth of Never.”

Shirley is survived by: her loving husband of 65 years, George Rashid Jr.; her four children, Denise (Michael) Vlamis of Palos Park, IL, Cindy (Tony) Baxter of Fort Madison, IA, David (Patti) Rashid of Kahoka, MO, and Joe (Canda) Rashid of Wever, IA; her thirteen grandchildren, Elysia (Jason) Rashid-Clark, David Rashid, Michael Vlamis, Marissa (Jason) Huffman, George (Gizeh) Rashid, Michael Baxter, Kelsey (fiancé Iver) Vlamis, Kayla (Cory) Christensen, Stephanie (fiancé Jeremy) Vlamis, Julien (fiancée Caroline) Rashid, Maya (fiancé Connor) Rashid, Elle Rashid, and Ava Rashid; her seven great grandchildren, Liam, Ben and Sophia Huffman; Miles, Autumn, and Iris Clark; and Luca Rashid. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Martha; her granddaughter, Ashley Rashid; her sister, Martha Russell; and her two brothers, Bob and Tom Wakin.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at Sacred Heart Church in Fort Madison. The funeral mass will immediately follow at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Gary Beckman officiating. Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

A memorial has been established for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. A luncheon will follow the burial at Spirit Hollow Clubhouse in Burlington, Iowa. Online condolences to the Rashid family may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website, www.kinglynk.com.

King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family.

Shirley Jean Rashid 03/28/1937-2024