Shirley Faye Sadler, 87, of Leesburg, Florida went to be with the Lord on January 5th, 2024. She was born on June 17, 1936 in Hazel Park, Michigan to Lonnie & Icye Sadler. She graduated from Hazel Park High School in 1954, Moody Bible Institute in 1958 and Grace Hospital School of Nursing in 1961. Shirley was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Hazel Park, MI and Trinity Baptist Church in Sun City Center, FL
Shirley served under TEAM, The Evangelical Alliance Mission, in Venezuela from 1965 – 2001. Shirley was initially a nurse with a team of missionaries working with an Indian tribe. She was also a church planter in El Vigia near Caracas and was also in charge of the Spanish Bible correspondence course office– adjacent to the campus of Ebenezer Bible Institute in San Cristobal. For 36 years, she loved sharing the gospel with children and women. She also built good friendships with them and showered others naturally with the love of Christ. She loved others genuinely and shined the light of Christ with her words and actions. She made friends easily, and she cared about meeting the needs of others.
Long after Shirley retired to Sun City Center, Florida, she kept in close touch with the children (now adults) she knew in Venezuela. Shirley was also a treasured friend among her fellow missionaries. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A (sister) who has friends must (herself) be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a (sister).” Shirley was that kind of missionary and friend!
Shirley is survived by her sister, Barbara (Verle) Miller, nephews Jon Markle, Ken (Debby) Dahlke and Jim (Michelle) Miller, nieces, Jan Dahlke Gosselin, Judy (Mack) Smith and Sandy (Brian) Chavous. She was preceded in death by her parents Lonnie & Icye Sadler, sisters Jean Markle & Francis Dahlke, as well as several nieces & nephews.
Per Shirley’s request, no memorial service will be held.
