Shirley Howard

Memorial services for Shirley June Howard will be held at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 20, 2015 with Rev. Doctor Lynn Williamson officiating. Cremation has taken place and a private family burial will be held at Highland Cemetery. Shirley was born June 29, 1924 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, the only child of Eric and Lillian (Foster) Thompson. She attended school in Chippewa Falls, graduating in 1942 and from Eau Claire Teachers' College in 1945 with a degree in secondary education. She taught at Loyal, Tomah, and Middleton while still in Wisconsin. She studied piano and organ, becoming an organist at the Episcopal Church in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin at the age of 16, and then moved to First Presbyterian Church for the next three years. She was an accompanist for vocal groups in junior and senior high schools, plus college. On July 31, 1948, she married James D. Howard of Eau Claire, Wisconsin at First Presbyterian Church in Chippewa Falls. They moved to Middleton for two years, and then to Waunakee while Jim attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison. During that time, she worked for Ray-O-Vac and Oscar Meyer Meat Packing Plant. In 1953, the family moved to Billings, Montana, where Jim worked for Mobil Oil Co., and Shirley was organist at First Presbyterian and Christian Churches. The next move was to Casper, Wyoming with Mobil Oil Co. in 1960. Shirley soon became an organist at the newly-established Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, a position she held until retiring in 1991. She reentered the teaching profession in 1964, where she taught English and Reading at East Junior High School for twenty-five years, retiring in 1989. Activities included Eastern Star in Chippewa Falls, WI, Casper teachers' organizations, and American Association of University Women. At the time of her death, she was an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa teachers' sorority. She was also a member of Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church, where she served as a deacon for six years as well as a member of the bell choir. Her interests included all kinds of music, reading, teaching, cooking, playing cards, sports, and most of all her wonderful family. Survivors include her five children John, Jerald and wife Debra, Joel, Jean Stemper and husband John, Julie Grayson and husband Dean; grandchildren Thomas Howard, Michael Howard and Amanda Andrè, Mitchell and Sean Stemper, Ann and Daniel Urbigkit, Zane and Marcus Grayson; along with several great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, her daughter-in-law Patricia Howard, and her granddaughter Elizabeth Howard. Memorials may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church or a charity of the donor's choice.