In Memory of Shirley

— EULOGY —

(for Shirley Evans 1934-2011)

I reached out, with youthful passion, for a lovely bauble, and found a priceless gem.

To me, to her children, her grandchildren, her sister, her nieces, nephews, in-laws and a multitude of friends, Shirley has been a font of love and support. She will leave an aching void in many hearts, but always sought laughter and joy. She’d wish you happiness whenever you remember her.

Shirley grew up in Wyoming, Ohio, and went to the Wyoming High School, of which she was eternally and vocally proud. I met her there when we moved two blocks away, and somehow convinced her to marry me and follow me – through the Army, to California, and finally to Philadelphia, but she never lost her Wyoming roots.

In addition to her beauty, which fairly shone, she was generous and loving to all, adventurous, joyful, and incredibly smart. Sandwiched in between our moves, a budding career, and the births of our children, she earned her degree in physics from Temple and her Masters in Statistics from Villanova. She worked as an analyst for General Electric and, for thirty one years, as a statistician, analyst, and manager at Wyeth Laboratories in Radnor Township.

She traveled widely through all 50 states and 38 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia, and was an avid student and reader.

Shirley leaves me behind and waiting, her husband and soulmate of 57 years, and four wonderful children – Marc, his wife Sharon, Curt and his wife Cyndi, Gwen, and Donna and her husband John.

She was a grandmother, known as mom-mom, to her nine adoring grandchildren - Sean, Travis, Tyler, Eric, Andie, Grant, Caroline, Jessica, and Rebecca. She is also survived by her sister Joyce and by that multitude of relatives and friends from coast to coast and border to border.

Shirley wanted to live to see all of her precious grandchildren graduate. Life doesn’t grant every wish. After three long and uncomplaining years she lost her gallant battle against cancer – the only one she ever lost – but I’m sure she’ll see those graduations. It will simply be from a higher plane.

And so, fair well, my love – “may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”

ARE

❋

A Sonnet to Shirley

I’ve penned a sonnet to you, Shirley, fully aware that, good or poor, fourteen lines will never touch, much less capture, the vibrant loveliness of your body or the beauty of your soul.

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I reached, with passion, for a lovely maid

And found, instead, an angel in my arms

A daring lover, bold and unafraid

A raven goddess filled with wit and charms.

You were a font of love, a constant star

A mother whom your children all adore

A haven to your friends both near and far

A goal for which I’ll strive forevermore

So sweet, so happily, our times began

All through the years of joy and tears they ran

And now our times have met mortality.

All that I am I owe to you, my love

If there is more – a heaven up above

You are my dream for all eternity

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