Ralph & Shirley Hamilton got married in the mid 1970’s at the T.O. United Methodist Church in Dickerson Hall.  The room was packed with guests.  She was welcomed by her new family & also her church family.   Shirley had her hands full raising Ralph’s children, Kirk, Bruce, Kathy,  Steven & Michelle & also be the wonderful nurse that she was.   Later on in life Shirley made it her job to make sure the church was ready for every event & cleaned up afterwards too.   She also made sure the Acolytes were ready on time....all the time.    We will always remember Shirley & will honestly miss her.  

                      In  Loving Memory
                      of Shirley Hamilton. 
   🙏🇺🇸☝️🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸❤🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸☝️🇺🇸🙏
               Brown Beach Kettle River


The memory I wanted to share is for my mother, Eileen Kaiser, who is a sister to Shirley. Shirley graduated at the top of her class, Sacred Heart School of Nursing in 1956. She was offered an opportunity on the east coast and turned it down, due to wanting to be close to her family. Our family has always been blessed by her loving and generous nature, as well as her example of how you love  and serve others.  

Shirley with great niece, Shaelyn, at her Bridal Shower. 

My first real interactions with Shirley came when my younger daughter was old enough to be an acolyte for our church’s worship services. Monica wasn’t interested in the typical youth activities offered at church but she absolutely loved acolyting for Shirley who had a way of leading the kids with a combination of firmness and love.

Later, when I was working at the church and saw her more frequently, Shirley taught me so many things! She was a wise woman who had a good understanding of human nature...she recognized the patterns in people - their motivations, insecurities, etc., but she was always a joyful lover of people, always up for an adventure or activity. I used to love our conversations in the early mornings when I’d get to church and she’d be there already, tidying up the kitchen after the previous day’s activities (whether or not the kitchen had been cleaned by the previous users!) Sometimes, she’d be so early, I’d only get to wave as our cars passed in the parking lot, or I’d see the kitchen floor was still drying and know I’d missed her entirely. 

Mostly, I saw how her faith informed her actions. Like so many others at UMCTO, service to the church and her choice of careers were all of a kind. She trusted in the Lord and on that foundation, lived her life, Amen.

Thank you, Shirley, for your lessons and friendship. Thank you to Shirley’s family too for this opportunity to say goodbye.





Shirley was one of the most wonderful, faithful servants of our Lord that I have been blessed to know...one of God’s “children”!
“Popping in” here-&-there as an organist, some times as choir director, other times as both, it was extremely helpful to find that “one person” who could answer my questions....& Shirley was that “one” at UMCTO!
My move to PA in March causes me to miss her service, but I will remember her with much love & appreciation in my heart.
Peace be with Shirley as she will no doubt be greeted with “Well done, good & faithful servant,,,Shirley Hamilton!” 🙏🏻✝️😊

Over the past few years, Shirley joined some of the other ladies and me in going out for lunch and to see a few plays in Thousand Oaks and North Hollywood.  We even had dinner at the original Bob's Big Boy in Burbank.   She was delightful company, and I am very thankful to have shared these times with her.

My favorite memories of Shirley are of times spent in the UMCTO kitchen.   I would sometimes help her and the other ladies clean up after church and special events.  She was very meticulous in her cleaning, so it would take a while; but our chatter and laughter made the time pass quickly.  She cleaned with a joyful heart, and I looked forward to helping because of that.  If I was lucky, I got to give her a ride home afterward; she was always very appreciative of any little thing done for her.  

Shirley did literally hundreds of jobs around the church; and try as we might, we would always forget something on those rare occasions when she wasn’t there.
She was a gracious servant of God with a quick wit and a beautiful smile--the quintessential “church lady”!


Prayers of comfort for Shirley's whole family during this time.  (Biological family and Church family!)  Shirley was the Church's "energizer bunny" for so many years.    She cared for the Church like it was her own home.   She was always the first to set up and the last to clean up!   I think of her often,  "especially" in the kitchen where many  meals were served for both the Church community and the community at large.    May God  "forever" bless the energizing Holy Spirit that God gave you, Shirley!    

 On the Sunday before Shirley’s passing, Shirley saw her mom (Grandma Brown) sitting on a bench and wanted to go to her.
 We walked over to the bench that was surrounded by beautiful White Roses and Shirley calls out for her mom. 
Shirley: Mom, mom, where are you? 
Shirley: She must have went Home.
Shirley: Im ready to go home…now.”
 
 Dear Aunt Shirley,
Thank you for all the memories. 
Thank you for being a big part in my life. 
And thank you for all the Christmas cards over the years.
I Love you and I miss you.

Shirley went with the group from UMCTO to Israel on 2014. My daughter, who was an acolyte under Shirley’s guidance, was concerned that she was too old to be traveling so far. As I left the house the morning of the trip Natalee said “Mom, make sure you take care of Shirley”! I promised I would. Our first day there we were in Cana. There were lots of people and don’t you know...we lost Shirley! She didn’t have her phone with her! One of our members found her a short time later and from that moment on I kept my eye on her!  It was an amazing trip and I’ll always be blessed by the memories we made there with her. ❤️

The photo is us in the Sea of Galilee. 

My Aunt Shirley, was my Great Aunt (My mothers Aunt and second Mom after her father passed). I am going to miss having Aunt Shirley at all of our family Thanksgivings, Christmas’ and get together at Toppers Pizza (her favorite!). I could always count on her to share with me a glass of iced white wine and, as mentioned, her fudge was second to none. I’ll miss her smile and endless stories she had. She always completed our family holidays and there will always be a missing piece with her gone. Aunt Shirley, I hope you are loving reconnecting with all your family in heaven! I’m sure Kathy is happy to have one more person to “switch places with” as she loved to do. We will miss you! 

Photo is from August 16, 2020, the Sunday before she passed.  As you can see, she was all smiles with her Toppers Pizza! 

Shirley was a great gal also a great nurse.
Yes she could make great fudge, I have recipe’s  that read Shirley’s Fudge Recipe’s.  I remember one time she was burned pretty bad making the fudge.  I remember we would all get together for Taco nights.  Shirley married and raised five children, only Shirley could do that.  Yes she was quite a gal.

Aunt Shirley was a nurturing and loving presents in my life as far back as I can remember.  She wasn’t my true aunt but my cousins aunt and was always part of our family gatherings.  She was always ready to lend a helping hand and was there to help my Aunt Onie after my uncle (shirley’s brother) passed away.  Holidays were always special with her wonderful fudge.  I know she is reunited with so many family members in heaven!

On Thursday August 20, 2020, my sister, my daughter and myself had a scheduled visit to spend time with Shirley. We decided early on to bring her favorite food-Ice Cream! Shirley loved Ice Cream. We arrived excited to see her and give her the special surprise. Her eyes lit up at the sight of her yummy treat. She then told us it was much to big, she would never finish it. We said, Just enjoy what you can! She ate it all!! This evening Shirley was a bit quieter than usual, but we enjoy our visit and hearing all about her day! Before we left I asked her if she recognized my daughter?
Shirley: I remember her when she was younger!
Me: That's Carlee.
Shirley: (She Smiled at Carlee)
Me: (As I pointed to my sister) Shirley do you remember her?
Shirley: Of course, that's Tyra!
Me: Do you know who I am?
(Shirley was quiet)
Me:  Aunt Shirley if you had to give me a name, what would it be?
Shirley: TROUBLE!  (Without missing a beat)
We all laughed!!
Me: I like that name!

Aunt Shirley was kind,thoughtful,generous,giving and funny! We could always count on Aunt Shirley-She loved her family deeply and was always ready for a family gathering. AND she made amazing fudge! Better than Disneyland's fudge I would say! Forever in our hearts you will be, Thank you for helping Mom raise us young girls! We will be forever grateful! 
Keri Nelson  

OBITUARY

Shirley Janice Hamilton

December 11, 1934 – August 21, 2020

Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park, Mortuary & Crematory

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