Shirley Anne Walz

1931 - 2025

Shirley Anne Crosby Walz.

On September 13, 2025, our beloved mother, Shirley Walz, moved on to write the next chapter of her life in Eternity. She died at the age of 94, at home in Fairview, Texas. She brought much love, fun, wisdom, and generosity to life.

Shirley Anne Crosby Walz was born on January 3, 1931, in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Fern Irene Townsend and Carroll Preston Crosby. Shirley was the awesome and cherished mother of five children – Carole (Karl), Katherine, Gretchen (Bo), Douglas (Celeste), and James Scott (Valorie). She was the grandmother of Michelle, Emily, Renee (Bo), Vanessa (Chris) and great grandmother to Emry, Evalyn, Elliette, Keaton, Claire, Maximus, and Sophia. She was the sister to Elaine and Sharon (Paul). She was an aunt to Michael, Greg (Jennifer), Jennifer (Gonzalo aka Al), David (Aparna), a great aunt to Dayna, Bethany, Ava, AJ, and Gyaan, a niece to seven aunts and their husbands plus three uncles and their wives. She was a first cousin to 17 and their spouses. She treasured all of her friendships and kept up with many childhood friends, other family members, church and work friends, and many other friends that she made during her lifetime.

Shirley was born during the Great Depression and grew up during World War II experiencing food rationing and food stamps, blackouts and patrols. At age four she started school at University of Michigan-University Elementary. Her father died suddenly at home when Shirley was 14 and her two sisters were four and three. As a child, she enjoyed art, sports, playing the violin and trumpet, and performing in children's theatre.

After her father died, her mother moved the family to Clarkston. While in high school there, Shirley worked on the school newspaper and year book, was a cheerleader, acted in the senior play and sang in the chorus, served as school treasurer, was on the student counsel, and was a member of the Girls Athletic Association. She graduated from Clarkston High School in 1948 and then attended the University of Michigan. After her first year of college where she worked in the college library, she trained and began working as a nurse's aide in the pediatric department at the University Hospital. While at the hospital, she met her future husband, James (Jim) Walz, who was also attending the University of Michigan. After Shirley and Jim married, they moved to Royal Oak, Michigan. She left college and worked at AAA until she began having children. She and Jim had five children in all – three girls and then two boys. In 1988, her eldest daughter, Carole, passed on, which was a great heartbreak for Shirley and for all the family.

Shirley dedicated thirty years to raising, nurturing, and inspiring her five children. The family moved from Michigan to Lexington, Kentucky for thirteen years, followed by a move to Chillicothe, Ohio for a few years, and then back to Lexington when she and Jim divorced.

Shirley recalled, "I was very fortunate to be able to make home making and child rearing my career and I have been rewarded with wonderful children, their spouses and children. I loved all of it. (In 1978) my next life began. My son, Scott, was a ninth grader and I began my working career at minimum wage. I have now worked at Louisville Tile for 18 years and feel grateful that they still appreciate me. I have been able to fulfill my artistic interests with showroom experience."

For all the many years Shirley lived in Lexington, she attended Second Presbyterian Church where she served as a deacon and an elder. She also was a member of PEO and volunteered with Meals on Wheels. After she retired in 1998, she moved to Winter Garden, Florida to help care for her beloved mother, Fern. In Florida, Shirley enjoyed living in a natural setting, swimming, and playing duplicate bridge often partnering with her mother. In 2003, after Fern passed away at the age of 99, Shirley moved back to Lexington where she lived for the next 18 years. In 2021, she moved along with her daughter, Katherine, to Fairview, Texas to be near all her Texas family.

Shirley was an avid gardener creating a beautiful English garden at her Kentucky home. She loved to read, play cards, play Wordle, and watch movies, sports, and game shows. Always curious, she kept up with current events. She was a smart and independent thinker. Shirley always was interested in family history and in the lives of her very large extended family.

With each challenge Shirley encountered in her life, and there were many, she found the strength to carry on, continue to care for her family, and serve her church and community while remaining positive, playful, and feisty.

She loved music and she really loved to sing. Even when her body was failing her, with eyes closed, she faintly sang songs with her children around her.

She was authentic with no guile and had a direct way of speaking; but, would make you laugh with her dry wit. She was also a big-hearted, generous, no-nonsense, hard-working, thoughtful, frugal, beautiful woman with natural good common sense. She so loved all her huge extended family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all of them.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in honor of Shirley to the Alabaré Honduras Mission, Second Presbyterian Church, 460 E. Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 15th at Second Presbyterian Church, 460 E. Main Street, Lexington, beginning at 1:00 p.m.