Shirley Gubler Houston Buckner Obituary (1941

Shirley Gubler Houston Buckner was born September 20, 1941, at La Verkin, Utah. She was the fourth of seven children born to Henry Winferd and Alice Isom Gubler: Marilyn (Chance) Hardy both deceased; Norman (deceased) and his wife Ann of La Verkin, Utah; Demar (Helen) La Verkin, Utah; Terry (Patti) Las Vegas, Nevada; Gordon deceased at age 17; and Lolene (Darwin) Gifford of Hurricane, Utah. Shirley’s father passed away from stomach cancer in 1949 when Shirley was only seven years old and she always missed her father. Shirley’s mother passed away at age 90 in 2000. Shirley passed away February 23, 2026, following a brave battle with Alzheimer’s disease, which was triggered by the passing of her daughter Annie in 2020. Shirley and her first husband Perry Houston were the proud parents of seven children, four boys and three girls: John Winferd (Annette) of Hurricane, Utah, Ricky Lavon (Lori)of Overton, Nevada, Kelly (Blanca) of El Paso, Texas, Clay (Jennifer) of Ogden, Utah, Annie (Vance) Lindsay of Lehi, Utah, Sherrie (Erik) Mackelprang of Enoch, Utah and Susy (Kelly) Jones of Enoch, Utah. Annie passed away in 2020 from liver cancer. Vance and his new wife Sheila are presently serving an LDS mission in Durban, South Africa. In 1991 Shirley married Gerald R Buckner and became stepmom to his five children: Todd (Rachelle) of Los Angeles California, Allison (Eric) Maxwell of Cedar City, Utah, Scott (Julie) of Bountiful, Utah, Michelle (Brad) Hansen of Heber City, Utah and Tim (Tara) of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Todd passed away in 2024 from injuries sustained in an auto accident. Gerry and Shirley’s family is made up of 12 children and their 12 mates, 42 grandchildren and their 24 mates, and 45 great-grandchildren making a posterity of 135. Shirley inherited a beautiful singing voice from her Gubler parents. During High School she and two of her cousins, Jeanette Duncan Benson and Vanda Fuller Wadsworth, performed as a trio at many community events. If you grew up in La Verkin in the 1950’s, you probably heard them singing as they often practiced as they strolled around town. In the 1960’s Shirley joined a group of young mothers that formed a group called the Sweet Adelines, which took 2nd place at a competition at the Utah State Fair. Shirley was a talented pianist, seamstress, artist and homemaker. Her pies at Thanksgiving time are legendary. Shirley served in many church callings over the years, including Relief Society President, Primary Teacher, Cub Scout Leader, Sunday School Teacher and Missionary just to mention a few. She and her husband Gerry served 42 months as missionaries on 4 different missions from 2008 to 2011. Shirley has an amazing love for and testimony of the restored gospel. She loves her Savior Jesus Christ and her family. She especially loved the sabbath. She and her Husband Gerry avoided travel on the sabbath as often as possible. Shirley was an amazing homemaker and was born with a hammer in one hand and a wrench in the other. She was not ever afraid to tackle a task that needed doing. She loved wallpaper and paint and molding and furniture. Oh yes and pianos. She owns three. The family would like to thank the CNA’s, nurses and other staff members of The Haven at Sky Mountain senior care center in Hurricane where Shirley spent the last 14 months of her life in the Memory Care Unit. Funeral services for Shirley will be held Saturday March 7, 2026, at 12:00 noon at the Hurricane LDS Chapel located at 272 South 700 West, Hurricane, Utah. Viewings will be held on Friday, March 6,2026 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and again on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at the same location. Interment will be at La Verkin City Cemetery.