Shirley Hersey

No. Falmouth - Shirley Schroy Hersey, of Needham and North Falmouth, died on September 25, 2025 at the age of 100 in the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. Shirley was born in Philadelphia on August 12, 1925 to Albert Earl Schroy and Martha Loechel Schroy, and attended Westville (New Jersey) High School. She joined the Cadet Nurse Corp before graduating in 1942 and went on to graduate from the School of Nursing of the Jefferson Medical College Hospital in Philadelphia in 1946, before joining The Bureau of Indian Affairs (formerly Indian Service) in Tacoma, Washington.

She married Francis Hersey, of Needham, in 1947, and moved with him to Topeka, Kansas, San Antonio, Texas, and Waynesville, Missouri while he completed his medical training and army service. She was psychiatric head nurse at Lakeland St. Hospital in Kentucky in 1948 and pediatric head nurse at Jersey City Medical Center in 1949. They moved to Rochester, NY for Francis to finish psychiatric residency at Strong Memorial Hospital. They settled in Needham in 1954, lived there until 1978, and then relocated to North Falmouth. While in Needham Shirley volunteered for Red Cross blood drives, polio vaccination events, parent teacher associations and as a leader for Brownies and Cub Scouts.

Shirley was a talented artist and, as a member of the Falmouth Art Center and the Needham Art Association, exhibited many watercolors of nature and brought home ribbons for her paintings. She enjoyed painting with the Monday morning painters. Fran and Shirley shared their interest in art and considered mutual appreciation of each other's work to be an important part of their marriage. They both contributed their paintings in support of the West Falmouth Library and had a 2-person art show on FCTV: https://youtu.be/A618fQJzpKw

Shirley was a long-time member of the Needham and Woods Hole Golf Clubs, a one time champion of the senior ladies and twice hit a hole in one. She enjoyed and was highly respected in her investment club, bridge group, Thursday Club of North Falmouth and Seascape Home Owner's Association. Friends and family enjoyed her talent on the piano and harmonica and also the player piano music she loved to play. Shirley's knowledge of antiques was surpassed by none and she loved to share this knowledge.

Both Shirley and Fran admired and collected Japanese and Inuit prints. They enjoyed rescuing cats and dogs and generously supported Dog Orphan's Inc., National Wildlife Federation.

Shirley was predeceased by her husband of 69 years, Dr. Francis Coney Hersey in 2017, and is survived by her children and their spouses: Coral and Mark Horner of Niskayuna, NY. Paul Coney Hersey of Bennington, Vt. Susan and Alfred Garrett of Hilton Head, SC, and John Hersey and James Rosser of Los Angeles, CA. She is survived by 10 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 9 nephews and 1 niece.

Dog lover, Talented artist, Great golfer, Natural teacher, Excellent story teller, with a great sense of humor, Shirley threw wonderful parties and had a large number of friends. Member of the Great Depression and World War 2 generation, she saw the world change tremendously in her 100 years.

At this time, no service is planned and in lieu of flowers, a donation to Smile Train would be welcomed.