Shirley Ann Plake, age 82 and a long-time resident of Elwood, passed away Thursday, August 11, 2016 at St. Vincent Mercy Hospital in Elwood after a brief illness. She was born July 16, 1934 in Elwood, the daughter of Claude Robison and Alice (Phipps) Robison-DeWeese. She married Dartis T. Plake and they shared over 44 years of marriage together. Shirley was a homemaker all of her life, and was devoted to caring for her family. She was an avid Chicago Cubs Baseball fan and enjoyed watching her favorite television shows – "Law and Order" and "Family Feud". More than anything, Shirley will be remembered as being a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

Shirley's family includes daughter, Sherrie (husband Tom) Elder of Elwood; 2 sons, Robert (wife Leah) Kolacki of Muncie and Steven (wife Cindy) Plake of Anderson; sister, Claudia Kay (husband Sam) Witt of Delta, OH; 3 grandchildren, Jama (husband Steve) Hood of Alexandria, Dustin Kolacki of Alexandria, and Scott Arehart; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dartis T. Plake who died in 2001; and brother, Charles "Butch" Robison.

A funeral service celebrating Shirley's life will be conducted at 1:00 PM on Monday, August 15, 2016 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with family friend, Rich Leavell, officiating. Burial will follow in the Elwood City Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 11 AM to 1 PM on Monday, August 15, 2016 prior to the funeral service at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences to the family may be made at copherfeslermay.com.