Shirley Lorraine Wood

Shirley was born May 6, 1933 in Baltimore, Maryland to Lloyd and Margaret Myers. After graduating from High School, she worked at Esskay Meat in Baltimore. Around this time, she met a solider, Steve Wood at a USO dance; and on June 23, 1953 they married and moved to Ann Arbor.

Shirley worked as a secretary at the University of Michigan until they had children. While caring for four kids, she volunteered her time and talents for her church and her family’s many scouting, music, and school activities. She returned to office work when her children got older; managing insurance and billing for Carl Woolley, DDS, until she retired.

Shirley became an active member of Zion Lutheran Church shortly after moving to Ann Arbor. For many decades, she joyfully participated in the church’s activities and in its community ministries.

Shirley will be remembered by family and friends for her kindness and generosity, her fierce independence and her unconditional love. She always had a smile, a joke, a positive attitude, and looked for the best in everyone. Both adults and children, in and outside her family, would reach out to her when they needed someone to lean on, or to just lend them a friendly ear.

Shirley cherished her family and friends, enjoyed traveling and spending time in her garden, and delighted in watching her grandchildren and great grandchild grow. She loved to decorate for any holiday and has a trove of treasures from friends and family to prove it.

Shirley is survived by her children Lynda (Rick) Hartzell, Robert Wood, Sandra Wood, and Susan (Bryan) Taube, 5 grandchildren, Kathryn, Carolyn, Emily, John and Sarah, and one great grandson, Callum.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to FedUpMinistries.org/give, serving food insecure communities in Southeast Michigan.

A Celebration of Life service will be held 11:00 am Tuesday, September 20 at Zion Lutheran Church of Ann Arbor (livestream available), followed by a reception. Visitation will be held Monday, September 19 between 4 and 7 pm at Muehlig Funeral Chapel in Ann Arbor.