Shirley Persons
January 18, 1931 - September 8, 2017
Shirley Smith Persons was born in Milford, Utah on January 18, 1931 to Kent and Hannah Smith. She was the youngest child with two older sisters and a brother. She had a wonderful childhood growing up on a farm and later living in a small southern Utah town. She was surrounded by lots of family living close to aunts, uncles and cousins. She enjoyed school and graduated in 1949 and was the salutatorian of her class. After graduation, she worked for the phone company as a telephone operator manning an old- fashioned switchboard.
At Milford High School, Shirley met Melvin Persons. They were married in 1955 and started their family. Two sons, Alan and Dale, were born while they farmed potatoes in Milford. They later moved to several locations in the western united states before settling in Phoenix, AZ where they lived for the next 54 years. Their third son, Brian, was born Phoenix completing the family. For many years, Shirley worked in the Washington School District in the cafeteria as a clerk. Shirley was a hard worker and enjoyed the friendships she made there. She used her earnings to help send her sons on missions and pay for her kids to go to college. Shirley was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints and supported her sons in their church service.
The family enjoyed spending time together on vacations and holidays. Shirley was a great cook and loved to have the entire family together. Shirley and Melvin bought a trailer and enjoyed camping in Flagstaff with the family. They loved getting out of the summer heat and spending time in the cool pines near Ashurst Lake. Shirley was a sports fan. She enjoyed watching the Arizona, Diamondbacks, Arizona, Cardinals, and Phoenix, Suns. If the game was a nail-biter you could find her in the hall, as it was too much pressure for her to watch.
As the sons married the family grew with everyone settling close by in north Phoenix. Shirley was always there to help tend grandchildren entertain, and, host the family holiday gatherings. She enjoyed reading and instilled this passion into her grandchildren. Shirley loved teaching her grandchildren how to make strawberry jam, cinnamon rolls and other family favorites. Shirley always looked forward to the annual trip to Roosevelt Lake which brought the entire family together for a week of fun, food and games, including her favorite game, Canasta. Whether it was Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas or birthdays, Shirley loved it when the family came together to celebrate.
Shirley returned home on September 8, 2017 and will be greatly missed. Shirley’s husband of 61 years, Melvin Persons preceded her in death two months prior. She is survived by her three sons and their spouses, children and grandchildren; son Alan, (Valorie), Becky (Scott), Deidric, Derek, Jarrett; Amy (Bob), Benji, Noah, Kaylee; Stephen (Annie), Lily; Heather, Doug Jr., Teddy; Justin and son Dale, (Nona), Jaime, (Brent), Ethan, Allie, Kaleb, Rylie; Loni, (Chris); Scott (Lindsay), Ryan, Sawyer, Sage and son Brian (Nancy), Courtney, Hailey, Abbey (Lindsey preceded her in death). Two more great-grandchildren are expected next year. Shirley loved her family dearly and showed this in word and deed. A celebration of life will be held at Heritage Funeral Chapel on Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with a viewing from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at 6830 W. Thunderbird Rd. Peoria, AZ 85381.
Heritage Funeral Home
January 18, 1931 - September 8, 2017
Shirley Smith Persons was born in Milford, Utah on January 18, 1931 to Kent and Hannah Smith. She was the youngest child with two older sisters and a brother. She had a wonderful childhood growing up on a farm and later living in a small southern Utah town. She was surrounded by lots of family living close to aunts, uncles and cousins. She enjoyed school and graduated in 1949 and was the salutatorian of her class. After graduation, she worked for the phone company as a telephone operator manning an old- fashioned switchboard.
At Milford High School, Shirley met Melvin Persons. They were married in 1955 and started their family. Two sons, Alan and Dale, were born while they farmed potatoes in Milford. They later moved to several locations in the western united states before settling in Phoenix, AZ where they lived for the next 54 years. Their third son, Brian, was born Phoenix completing the family. For many years, Shirley worked in the Washington School District in the cafeteria as a clerk. Shirley was a hard worker and enjoyed the friendships she made there. She used her earnings to help send her sons on missions and pay for her kids to go to college. Shirley was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints and supported her sons in their church service.
The family enjoyed spending time together on vacations and holidays. Shirley was a great cook and loved to have the entire family together. Shirley and Melvin bought a trailer and enjoyed camping in Flagstaff with the family. They loved getting out of the summer heat and spending time in the cool pines near Ashurst Lake. Shirley was a sports fan. She enjoyed watching the Arizona, Diamondbacks, Arizona, Cardinals, and Phoenix, Suns. If the game was a nail-biter you could find her in the hall, as it was too much pressure for her to watch.
As the sons married the family grew with everyone settling close by in north Phoenix. Shirley was always there to help tend grandchildren entertain, and, host the family holiday gatherings. She enjoyed reading and instilled this passion into her grandchildren. Shirley loved teaching her grandchildren how to make strawberry jam, cinnamon rolls and other family favorites. Shirley always looked forward to the annual trip to Roosevelt Lake which brought the entire family together for a week of fun, food and games, including her favorite game, Canasta. Whether it was Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas or birthdays, Shirley loved it when the family came together to celebrate.
Shirley returned home on September 8, 2017 and will be greatly missed. Shirley’s husband of 61 years, Melvin Persons preceded her in death two months prior. She is survived by her three sons and their spouses, children and grandchildren; son Alan, (Valorie), Becky (Scott), Deidric, Derek, Jarrett; Amy (Bob), Benji, Noah, Kaylee; Stephen (Annie), Lily; Heather, Doug Jr., Teddy; Justin and son Dale, (Nona), Jaime, (Brent), Ethan, Allie, Kaleb, Rylie; Loni, (Chris); Scott (Lindsay), Ryan, Sawyer, Sage and son Brian (Nancy), Courtney, Hailey, Abbey (Lindsey preceded her in death). Two more great-grandchildren are expected next year. Shirley loved her family dearly and showed this in word and deed. A celebration of life will be held at Heritage Funeral Chapel on Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with a viewing from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at 6830 W. Thunderbird Rd. Peoria, AZ 85381.
Heritage Funeral Home
Shirley Persons
January 18, 1931 - September 8, 2017
Shirley Smith Persons was born in Milford, Utah on January 18, 1931 to Kent and Hannah Smith. She was the youngest child with two older sisters and a brother. She had a wonderful childhood growing up on a farm and later living in a small southern Utah town. She was surrounded by lots of family living close to aunts, uncles and cousins. She enjoyed school and graduated in 1949 and was the salutatorian of her class. After graduation, she worked for the phone company as a telephone operator manning an old- fashioned switchboard.
At Milford High School, Shirley met Melvin Persons. They were married in 1955 and started their family. Two sons, Alan and Dale, were born while they farmed potatoes in Milford. They later moved to several locations in the western united states before settling in Phoenix, AZ where they lived for the next 54 years. Their third son, Brian, was born Phoenix completing the family. For many years, Shirley worked in the Washington School District in the cafeteria as a clerk. Shirley was a hard worker and enjoyed the friendships she made there. She used her earnings to help send her sons on missions and pay for her kids to go to college. Shirley was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints and supported her sons in their church service.
The family enjoyed spending time together on vacations and holidays. Shirley was a great cook and loved to have the entire family together. Shirley and Melvin bought a trailer and enjoyed camping in Flagstaff with the family. They loved getting out of the summer heat and spending time in the cool pines near Ashurst Lake. Shirley was a sports fan. She enjoyed watching the Arizona, Diamondbacks, Arizona, Cardinals, and Phoenix, Suns. If the game was a nail-biter you could find her in the hall, as it was too much pressure for her to watch.
As the sons married the family grew with everyone settling close by in north Phoenix. Shirley was always there to help tend grandchildren entertain, and, host the family holiday gatherings. She enjoyed reading and instilled this passion into her grandchildren. Shirley loved teaching her grandchildren how to make strawberry jam, cinnamon rolls and other family favorites. Shirley always looked forward to the annual trip to Roosevelt Lake which brought the entire family together for a week of fun, food and games, including her favorite game, Canasta. Whether it was Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas or birthdays, Shirley loved it when the family came together to celebrate.
Shirley returned home on September 8, 2017 and will be greatly missed. Shirley’s husband of 61 years, Melvin Persons preceded her in death two months prior. She is survived by her three sons and their spouses, children and grandchildren; son Alan, (Valorie), Becky (Scott), Deidric, Derek, Jarrett; Amy (Bob), Benji, Noah, Kaylee; Stephen (Annie), Lily; Heather, Doug Jr., Teddy; Justin and son Dale, (Nona), Jaime, (Brent), Ethan, Allie, Kaleb, Rylie; Loni, (Chris); Scott (Lindsay), Ryan, Sawyer, Sage and son Brian (Nancy), Courtney, Hailey, Abbey (Lindsey preceded her in death). Two more great-grandchildren are expected next year. Shirley loved her family dearly and showed this in word and deed. A celebration of life will be held at Heritage Funeral Chapel on Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with a viewing from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at 6830 W. Thunderbird Rd. Peoria, AZ 85381.
Heritage Funeral Home
January 18, 1931 - September 8, 2017
Shirley Smith Persons was born in Milford, Utah on January 18, 1931 to Kent and Hannah Smith. She was the youngest child with two older sisters and a brother. She had a wonderful childhood growing up on a farm and later living in a small southern Utah town. She was surrounded by lots of family living close to aunts, uncles and cousins. She enjoyed school and graduated in 1949 and was the salutatorian of her class. After graduation, she worked for the phone company as a telephone operator manning an old- fashioned switchboard.
At Milford High School, Shirley met Melvin Persons. They were married in 1955 and started their family. Two sons, Alan and Dale, were born while they farmed potatoes in Milford. They later moved to several locations in the western united states before settling in Phoenix, AZ where they lived for the next 54 years. Their third son, Brian, was born Phoenix completing the family. For many years, Shirley worked in the Washington School District in the cafeteria as a clerk. Shirley was a hard worker and enjoyed the friendships she made there. She used her earnings to help send her sons on missions and pay for her kids to go to college. Shirley was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints and supported her sons in their church service.
The family enjoyed spending time together on vacations and holidays. Shirley was a great cook and loved to have the entire family together. Shirley and Melvin bought a trailer and enjoyed camping in Flagstaff with the family. They loved getting out of the summer heat and spending time in the cool pines near Ashurst Lake. Shirley was a sports fan. She enjoyed watching the Arizona, Diamondbacks, Arizona, Cardinals, and Phoenix, Suns. If the game was a nail-biter you could find her in the hall, as it was too much pressure for her to watch.
As the sons married the family grew with everyone settling close by in north Phoenix. Shirley was always there to help tend grandchildren entertain, and, host the family holiday gatherings. She enjoyed reading and instilled this passion into her grandchildren. Shirley loved teaching her grandchildren how to make strawberry jam, cinnamon rolls and other family favorites. Shirley always looked forward to the annual trip to Roosevelt Lake which brought the entire family together for a week of fun, food and games, including her favorite game, Canasta. Whether it was Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas or birthdays, Shirley loved it when the family came together to celebrate.
Shirley returned home on September 8, 2017 and will be greatly missed. Shirley’s husband of 61 years, Melvin Persons preceded her in death two months prior. She is survived by her three sons and their spouses, children and grandchildren; son Alan, (Valorie), Becky (Scott), Deidric, Derek, Jarrett; Amy (Bob), Benji, Noah, Kaylee; Stephen (Annie), Lily; Heather, Doug Jr., Teddy; Justin and son Dale, (Nona), Jaime, (Brent), Ethan, Allie, Kaleb, Rylie; Loni, (Chris); Scott (Lindsay), Ryan, Sawyer, Sage and son Brian (Nancy), Courtney, Hailey, Abbey (Lindsey preceded her in death). Two more great-grandchildren are expected next year. Shirley loved her family dearly and showed this in word and deed. A celebration of life will be held at Heritage Funeral Chapel on Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with a viewing from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at 6830 W. Thunderbird Rd. Peoria, AZ 85381.
Heritage Funeral Home
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