Shirley Ruth Waterman Crowley

Shirley Ruth Waterman Crowley Shirley Ruth Waterman Crowley, age 79, died on March 15, 2009 in Boise, Idaho. The family will receive friends at the viewing this evening (Thursday) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 20, 2009 at Boone Memorial Presbyterian Church, Caldwell. Burial will follow at Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell. Condolences and memories can be shared with the family using their online guestbook at www.dakanfuneralchapel.com Shirley was born in Caldwell, Idaho on March 5, 1930 to Ruth Miller Waterman and Lloyd Allen Waterman. She attended school in Caldwell and Graduated from the College of Idaho with a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education in 1951. She married Richard C. Crowley on March 14, 1951. They were married for 58 years. Shirley was a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be dearly missed. She is survived by her husband Dick, Chris Crowley's widow, Robin of Boise and children Thomas, and Alice; daughter Jill Courtright (Charles M.) of Anchorage, Alaska and children Cheryl, Alicia, Charles 'Chip', and Josephine; son Todd Crowley (Janelle) of Janesville, Wis. and child Britta; daughter Lisa Mathis (Danny) of Caldwell and child Miranda 'Tassy' Mathis; son Jon Crowley of Caldwell and child Tommy; and four great-grandchildren Cristina Hawley, Camille Crowley, Austin Crowley, and Kyla Crowley. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her eldest son Christopher Crowley M.D., and brother Wilbur Waterman M.D. Shirley was one of the first kindergarten teachers in the state of Idaho. She first taught at the College of Idaho, and then had a private kindergarten in her home prior to the establishment of public kindergartens. In the mid 60's Shirley was hired by Idaho Farm Workers Services to establish programs for daycare centers for the children of migrant workers. This was the first such effort in the area and would later become Idaho Migrant Council and Canyon County Headstart. She was the director of the Canyon County Headstart program for many years. Shirley was also very active in promoting kindergarten in the public schools in the state of Idaho. Shirley was a member of Idaho Pocahontas chapter of NSDAR, the 'UT' Club of Caldwell, and a life-long member of Boone Memorial Presbyterian Church in Caldwell. She was active in the Class of '48 from Caldwell High School and was a past president of the local chapter of AAUW. She was a hard worker, a good friend, and had an intelligent and active mind to the end. Shirley and Dick were avid participants in Rally activities as members of SWISCC and PCA. They were also ardent gardeners together. Her love of the bearded iris led to a spectacular bed of flowers on the corner of their lot in Caldwell. Shirley was pleased to be able to donate many of her extra plants to the C of I last fall. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the Family requests that donations be made to the Christopher K. Crowley M.D. Memorial Scholarship Fund at the College of Idaho. The Family would like to express their thanks and appreciation for the kind, compassionate, and professional care provided by the doctors, nurses, and staff in the CCU at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center.