Shirley Ann Deering

Shirley Ann (Ruth) Deering, who died peacefully at her daughter’s home on October 11, 2016, was born on September 26, 1926, and world was never the same!!! Shirley was the oldest of two daughters born to George and Catherine Ruth in Detroit, MI. The family would move to Tawas City in the late 1940’s.

Shirley was married to Robert Deering in August, 1950, widowed in March, 1952 and gave birth to her only child, Kathleen, six weeks later. She worked for the City of Tawas City, then spent the next 30+ years working for the Diocese of Saginaw as Parish Administrator and Director of Religious Education.

In March, 1983, Shirley relocated to the Chicago area to be with her daughter. She worked as a Clinical Pathology Secretary at Quest Diagnostics for the next 16 years, retiring in the Spring of 1999. Shirley then moved back to Michigan where she liked to “dabble” at her daughters’ Cookies by Design shoppe in Okemos.

While in the Chicago area, Shirley developed a great admiration for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. One of her crowning achievements was meeting Michael Jordan, his Mother and his then wife. When the Bulls went to Disney World after winning their first championship in 1991, Shirley went along…

Another of her achievements was traveling to Hawaii in May, 1988 even thought she swore she would not get there unless they built a bridge…A glass of wine and a mild sedative helped to get her there!

Shirley loved to laugh, have fun, dance, dine out and give people her unsolicited opinion. She loved nice clothes, jewelry, glitter and the color pink. She dearly loved her Grandcats, especially, Jillian, her companion for 17 years and who survives her, and she loved her daughter dearly…May she dance with the angels!

Those desiring may make contributions in memory of Shirley to St. Martha Parish 1100 W. Grand River Ave., Okemos, MI. 48864, Mid- Michigan Cat Rescue, Inc. 1117 Tulip St, Grand Ledge, MI. 48837 or St. Vincent Home for Children, Inc.,2800 W. Willow St., Lansing, MI. 48917.

Visitation for Shirley will be on Friday, October 28, 2016, from 9-10 am at St. Martha Catholic Church in Okemos, followed by Mass at 10 am with a luncheon following. She will be interred at Oakwood Mausoleum in Saginaw at 2 pm.