Shirley Geddes

Shirley Geddes passed away peacefully at age 91 in her Rio Rancho home on April 1, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.

Shirley was born on January 8, 1934, in Hull, England and met the love of her life, James Geddes, while he was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Air Force and she was studying abroad in Europe. Together they raised their four children in various states and countries, including Japan and England, before retiring in Albuquerque, NM.

Shirley was an enthusiastic traveler who visited all 7 continents in her lifetime.

Many trips were made with her husband Jim. While stationed in Germany, they traveled throughout Europe. While stationed in Japan she/they traveled throughout Asia and enjoyed visits to Hong Kong, Thailand, and China amongst other countries. Traveling in Africa included a trip down the Nile and seeing the Pyramids in Egypt, and a safari and a stay at Treetops in Kenya. Traveling in South America included a hike to Machu Picchu, a trip down the Amazon River, and a visit to the Falkland Islands.

Shirley made numerous trips to Australia and New Zealand, where her younger brother Terry lived, and was a partner in several New Zealand enterprises including a fruit farm and a tour boat. Shirley also enjoyed traveling alone and her visits to the U.S.S.R., India, and Cuba (to name a few) were made as a solo globetrotter. After Jim died in 1996, Shirley continued her travels, often with family members and friends. Some of her more recent travels included beach holidays and cruises with the kids and grandkids. Shirley's last big trip was a return to England at the age of 89, to visit her younger brother Colin and family in Yorkshire, and her two grandchildren in Hertfordshire and Dorset.

Shirley was a stay-at-home mom raising four children for a number of years. During those years Shirley became a great seamstress and made everything from curtains and bedspreads, to Halloween costumes and doll clothes (even Barbie dolls clothes!). She painted, made pottery, did metal art, and decorated the family home with many of her artistic endeavors. Shirley loved to cook and bake and try new recipes. Her children enjoyed nightly dinners from all over the world - Greek moussaka and pitas, Japanese gyoza and yakitori, German schnitzel and strudel, Italian made-from-scratch pizza and lasagna, Spanish paella, Mediterranean stuffed bell peppers, the list goes on and on. After dinner, there was always a homemade dessert. When the family lived in England this was often an apple pie or strudel made from apples picked from the apple trees in the back garden. Even at age 91, Shirley was still in the kitchen cooking and baking, and loved to make her traditional mince tarts at Christmas time. Ironically, the only dish Shirley did not excel at making was Yorkshire pudding!

When the kids were in school, Shirley had a variety of part time jobs - a gym manager, an ikebana (the art of Japanese flower arrangement) instructor, a social worker, a household manager for British television cook Fanny Cradock, and a used bookstore owner are a few that come to mind.

Shirley was an avid gardener and loved the desert southwest landscape. She loved exploring New Mexico and made many weekend and day trips to enjoy the Land of Enchantment. Less than two weeks before Shirley passed, she asked for a drive up to Chimayo so she could collect some of the Santuario's holy dirt. She was also a voracious reader who spent many hours at the library. She enjoyed biographies and historical non-fiction books the most.

Shirley loved to watch and feed wildlife. She always saved some salad greens and bread from every meal for the bunnies and the birds - even when eating out!

She was nicknamed Granny Pigeon and then Great Granny Pigeon (when the great grandkids came along) thanks to her love of birds, and everyone called her G.G.P for short. Shirley was outgoing, adventurous, and up for anything. She was still riding roller coasters in her 80's!

Shirley was a great teacher who was always willing to tutor, encourage, and share her passions with everyone. And finally, she was a wonderful friend and mother who sounds too good to be true... except she really was all that and so much more.

Shirley (alias G.G.P.) will be deeply missed by her 4 children - Cheryl Geddes, Chris Geddes, Suzanna (with husband Curtis) Kitts, and Karole Geddes; 5 grandchildren - James Taylor, Kristiana Taylor, Brielle (with husband Chad) Perea Johnson, Grant (with wife Sandra) Perea, and Kendrah Geddes; 4 great grandchildren – Gray, Cade, Elara, and Samiah; along with many nieces and nephews in England, and numerous friends and neighbors. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, James Geddes, and both her younger brothers - Terence and Colin Fisher.

Shirley's Life Celebration will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 11:00am at Reflections Chapel located at 2400 Washington St. NE, 87110.