October 23, 1937 – December 27, 2025
Shirley Moats, 88, of Iowa Falls, passed away Saturday, December 27, 2025 at Hansen Family Hospital. Funeral services will be 1:30 PM Friday, January 2, 2026 at the Woodley Funeral Home in Iowa Falls with visitation one hour prior. She will be laid to rest at the Northlawn Memory Gardens following the service. Woodley Funeral Home of Iowa Falls is caring for Shirley and her family.
Shirley Ann Moats was born on October 23, 1937 to Fred and Viola (Chaplin) Knott in Hardin County, Iowa. Shirley graduated from Iowa Falls High School. She had a 68-year career as an accountant at various companies, with the last 30 years spent at Plastic Recycling of Iowa Falls and recently retired in November 2025.
On April 22, 1956 Shirley was united in marriage to Jesse Hanson at the Iowa Falls Methodist Church. They later divorced. In March of 1978 Shirley married Millard “Gene” Moats in Austin, Minnesota. Gene brings three children to the family, Todd (Melinda) Moats of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Kirk (Patty) Moats of Jacksonville, Florida and Kim (Emilio) Zapada of Tama, Iowa.
Shirley enjoyed reading, traveling, camping and fishing along with listening to Johnny Cash and Alan Jackson music. She was a great baker and cook. Her chocolate chip cookies, homemade pies, funnel cakes and noodles were a few of the family favorites. Her greatest joy was visiting with her family and friends. She definitely had a bounce in her step to get to the front door and hug her grandchildren when they came to visit.
Shirley will be greatly missed by her husband, Millard “Gene” Moats of Iowa Falls, Iowa; children, Gary Lynn Hanson of Hastings, Minnesota, Terry Lee (Teresa) Hanson of Iowa Falls, Iowa, Randall Paul (Wendy) Hanson of Aplington, Iowa and Vincent Lee Hanson of Iowa Falls, Iowa; 22 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren, including one on the way. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Viola Knott; in-laws, Millard and Etta Moats and Arden and Ellen Braga; brothers, Lloyd and Marlyn Knott and great-grandchild, Sayler Jahner.
woodleyfuneralhome.com