Shirley Marie Strout O'Donal, 79, of Silver City, NM

Category: Obituaries Obituaries
Published: 28 May 2015 28 May 2015

Shirley Marie Strout O'Donal a resident of Silver City, NM went to meet her maker at approximately 10:40 pm Thursday May 21, 2015. She was surrounded by the love and care of her husband and daughter from the comfort of her home when she passed at the age of 79.

She was born May 3, 1936 in Raymond Town/Cumberland County Maine to her father Sumner Ivan Strout and mother Evelyn G. Plummer Strout. The couple married December 18, 1931 and had 3 children, 1932, 1936 and 1938 were the years the Strout children were born with Shirley being the middle child. Both parents have preceded her in passing and her eldest sibling Elinor Strout is still alive. On Saturday October 30, 1954 in Skowhegan Maine, Shirley exchanged vows with the man of her dreams and lifelong partner Roger Ricker O'Donal. Roger and Shirley spent 61 amazing and memorable years together. They were blessed with 2 children. On February 24, 1957 the couple welcomed their daughter Trudy O'Donal in the world. One year later in 1958 to everyone's surprise they welcomed a bouncing baby boy they named Roger Jr. Into the O'Donal family. Not only did they have a new family at this time but also a new home. Roger and Shirley had taken a leap of faith and left everything and everyone behind in Maine to start their story in Concord, CA. Shortly after getting married in 1955 Roger and Shirley made Concord their home and first chapter in their story. This would be the first of many moves for Shirley and her family. In 1957 they moved to Martinez, CA where they had both children and the two became three and then four. After 14 years in sunny Martinez they moved North to greener pastures in Medford, Oregon where their children finished out school. The year was 1972 in which Oregon had become home and would remain so until 2000. Their kids now had kids of their own and the couple decided to follow their dreams by moving to Hamilton, Montana and traveling in their trailer on the side. In 2004 Rathdrum, Idaho became home for them. Still missing something and looking to alleviate some of Shirley's arthritis pains they again sought out the sun in Silver City, NM. In 2010 silver City became home to the couple and would be Shirley's final resting place. Shirley was a loving wife to Roger, a caring mother to Trudy and Roger Jr. A proud grandmother of 4, Misty, CJ, amber and Chad. Her final and most fitting title of all was great-grandmother to Lucas, Amber's son, Aubrey, CJ's daughter and Richard Joe, Misty's son. A woman of many talents she helped support her family as a special needs school bus driver where she would remain for several fulfilling years. Even after her retirement she continued to hold her "bus children" close to her heart with a simple homemade key chain that had two pennies encapsulated within a clear medallion. Tending to her garden and frogs in the greenhouse and collecting cactus-es were a few of her passions. She also appreciated being out in the wilderness or "Boonies" as she called it. Camping and being near nature was where she felt at ease. After purchasing several acres on a nice piece of property in Oregon you could often find her feeding the wild turkey's or deer or sitting in her kitchen window watching her prized hummers feed on their hummingbird feeder. Relaxing reading Harlequin romance novels or watching an old western movie with husband Roger were often things you would find her doing in her down time. A couple of her favorite things in life besides her family that she will be remembered for are her necessity to have turquoise and black hills gold jewelry, her obnoxious obsession with HUGE western purses, using only Claussen dill pickles "because they are the best", her adoration of anything and everything to do with her Native American Heritage and last but not least her passion for Pepsi. Not only did she collect vintage bottles of Pepsi but she also used "Pepsi Cola" as her CB handle.

Shirley lived a good life. Her and her adoring husband traveled back to their roots numerous times to visit family. Now she will be visiting those that have gone before her and waiting for those that will eventually follow. No matter where she is, whether it be here or there she will always be loved and missed by those that knew her. R.I.P. Grandma, I Love You!

Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels. Exclusive provider for "Veterans &Family Memorial Care". To sign the online guest book or to send a card, please visit our website at www.bacasfuneralchapels.com.

Hwy 180 East on Delk Dr., Silver City, NM 88062 - 575-388-2334

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