Shirley was born on June 8, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan, where she spent her childhood years. She attended Bethel Lutheran Church regularly with her grandmother and retained a quiet faith throughout her life. Even as a young child, Shirley had a beautiful singing voice, and on Saturdays she sang with her older sister Loretta and Gordon MacRae on the popular Uncle Don radio program that aired on WOR Radio in Detroit during the l 930s. Shirley graduated from Northwestern High School in Detroit and was employed as a switchboard operator with Frigid Foods until her marriage to Lawrence Blackmore on May 30, 1951. She and Larry lived in Holland, Michigan before moving to Traverse City in 1955. Together they raised four daughters in their bayfront home on the Old Mission Peninsula. Widowed in 2007, Shirley continued living in the home that she loved until 2013 when she moved to a smaller residence in Traverse City.
In addition to being a busy wife and mother who lovingly and efficiently managed a home, Shirley was employed until retirement as the school secretary for Old Mission Peninsula School where she was loved and respected by the students, faculty, and staff. In her spare time. Shirley enjoyed an occasional card game with relatives or friends, listening to music and singing along, reading, sitting in the sun on the beach or in the yard at her home, golfing, and walking for exercise and relaxation. For many years and no matter the season, Shirley could be seen on her daily walks along Bluff Road, always ready with a friendly smile and a wave for her neighbors. A kind and gentle woman with a brilliant smile and a wonderful sense of humor, Shirley lived a satisfyingly simple life with her greatest joy being her family.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Lawrence Blackmore; daughter Nancy Messenger; parents, Felix and Selma Burghardt; seven siblings; mother-in-law Sylvia Blackmore, and many sisters-and-brothers-in-law and other relatives and friends.
Greatly loved and missed by all, Shirley is survived by her daughters Linda (Mike) Nau, Bonnie (Mike) Cudney, and Donna (Cal Redman) Bohn; 10 grandchildren and their spouses and life partners and 13 great-grandchildren; son-in-law Jerry Messenger; sister Elaine (Arthur) Begin; sister-in-law Donna Bomer, and many nieces and nephews and their families.
The family is being served by Covell Funeral Home. Cremation has taken place and there are no services planned at this time. Please visit the online remembrance page to share memories of Shirley or notes to the family at: https://wvvw. dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/traverse-city mi/shirley-blackmore-9885384
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