Shelly Virginia Buys

Shelly Virginia Buys (Horton), 65, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2026 with her husband, and dog by her side.
Shelly was born in Akron, Iowa, on August 6, 1961 to Wayne and Virginia Horton, and was the second youngest of seven children. She married her childhood sweetheart, Robert (Bob) Buys, in Akron, Iowa, on September 1, 1979. The two later moved to Council Bluffs, where they built their life together.

If you were to ask Shelly what she was most proud of during her lifetime, she would likely decline to answer in the most humble of ways. That was Shelly, never one to talk about herself or her many wonderful qualities. Instead, she would likely turn the attention to her husband, Bob. There is no Bob without Shelly, and no Shelly without Bob. Their story began in grade school, where their close friendship grew into love. The friendship and support they shared carried them through almost 50 years of marriage. Together, they built a life that Shelly was always proud of.
Shelly spent much of her working life at Johnny's Cafe, where she worked for more than 30 years. Her official title was waitress, but after three decades, she did a little bit of everything and became an important part of Johnny's. In her spare time, Shelly most enjoyed spending time with her beloved wiener dogs, reading People magazine, completing celebrity crosswords, and going to the gym. She was also known to be quite the Scattergories champion!

Bob and Shelly never had children of their own, but that never stopped them from having a family full of love. Throughout their lives, they formed countless friendships that became something much more. Grant Rasmussen, who was a next door neighbor, felt more like a son than anything else. Shelly, Bob, Grant, and his welcoming family have shared holidays, birthdays, and made many other memories together in between. Todd Teut was also a close friend that the couple considers family. They shared a special bond with the Brackers, whose big family became such a natural part of their lives. Between neighbors, coworkers, and the many children they welcomed as their own, Shelly and Bob were surrounded by people who meant so much to them.

Shelly will be remembered for her natural humor, kindness, and intelligence. She had a way of lighting up a room with her presence and making those around her smile. Her favorite color was purple, a color that seemed to reflect her personality perfectly. Much like the color itself, Shelly brought warmth, creativity, and a little extra brightness to the lives of those around her. Whether it was a handwritten note, a thoughtful card, or a carefully chosen gift, Shelly always put time and thought into making others feel special. She loved her sweets, always believed dessert should come before dinner, and rarely passed up an opportunity to wear a pair of high heels, even to the pool. Those little things, along with her kind disposition and quick wit, are what made Shelly so wonderfully herself.

Shelly is survived by her husband Bob Buys, sisters, sisters in law, brothers in law, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded into death by her mother and father.

Shelly's family would be honored to have you join them for a memorial service on Sunday, November 13th, 2026, beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home & Crematory.  Refreshments will follow the memorial service.