Shirley Elaine Hofmann, 94, of Bella Vista, Arkansas died December 7, 2021.

She was born June 14, 1927 in Canfield, Ohio to Lawrence and Evelyn (Rominger) Hofmann.

She graduated from Canfield High School in 1944. She attended Ohio State University on a one year scholarship an then completed her college work at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois in 1948.  She worked as a Y-Teen director at the YWCA in Alliance, Ohio.  On August 20, 1949 she married James Ferch.  The   couple moved to Cropsey, Illinois where she taught in the elementary school.  She received a master's degree in elementary education from Colorado State College in Greeley, Colorado.  She did post-master's work at Normal University in Normal, Illinois.

She and her husband moved to Deerfield, Illinois where she taught in the elementary School for 3 years and then in the Highland Park school district for 22 years.  The couple moved to Libertyville in 1967.  She sang in the choirs of the Methodist churches in Cropsey, Deerfield, and Libertyville, as well as teaching Sunday school and co-sponsor of a youth group.

She and her husband moved to Bella Vista in 1987 where she continued her work in the music department of the First United Methodist Church.  She participated in the Disciple Bible Classes. She also sang in the Bella Vista Women's Chorus and the Northwest Arkansas Chorale.  The couple participated in Senior Olympics at the state and national levels.  Since both of them were on the swim teams at North Central College it was only natural that they would continue their interest in swimming in their retirement.

She was preceded in death by her husband.

Survivors include daughters, the Rev. Debora White of Sheldon, Illinois, Priscilla Gallagher a patent attorney from Chicago, Illinois; son, Christopher Ferch, a validation supervisor from Beloit, Wisconsin; and six grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, December 17, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church, 20 Boyce Drive, Bella Vista, Arkansas.  Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Arkansas.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Music Department, 20 Boyce Drive, Bella Vista, Arkansas 72714.

Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com