Shirley Mae Gove

Shirley Mae Gove, age 90, passed away on Sunday January 12, 2025, at her daughter’s home in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Born in Walpole, Massachusetts on September 10, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Elmer and Ellen (Manninen) Morse. 

Shirley was born and raised in Walpole alongside her sister and two brothers. She enjoyed helping her mother with the housework and attended Walpole schools. Shirley married the love of her life, Bennett Curtis Gove on August 11, 1953, in Walpole, MA. The couple went to Maryland where Ben was enlisted. After a few years, they moved back to Massachusetts where they started their family, first to Westwood, then to Walpole. Shirley flourished as a homemaker. She loved her family, made wonderful chocolate chip cookies, and was a great Mom, Grammie and Great Grammie. She had a playful sense of humor and could always be found watching the birds, her favorite being the owl.

Shirley enjoyed vacationing around New England with her family, including vacations on the Ossipee river and Rangely lakes, fishing with her husband, visiting Nantucket, and enjoying a houseboat vacation on Lake Mead in Nevada with family. She also enjoyed growing vegetables, dahlias, hydrangeas, portulacas, and more in her garden. Shirley loved ice skating at Turner’s Skating Club and their private skating pond in Temple. Best of all, Shirley was a friend. 

Once the kids were in elementary school, she went to work at the cafeteria in the Walpole public schools. After about ten years, she and her husband retired and they moved to Temple, New Hampshire near relatives, where they had found a lovely home with plenty of land for enjoying nature and spending time with family and friends. After the passing of her beloved husband last year, she moved in with her daughter and enjoyed taking part in the Active Day program in the area. 

Beloved wife of the late Bennett C. Gove 

Loving mother of the late Linda E. Gove and her husband Robert Dallas, and Cynthia G. Cerqua and her partner, Joseph, of Mansfield

Cherished grandmother (Grammie) of Stephanie M. Boucher and her husband Jason of Port Saint Lucie, Florida and Andrea S. Crivellaro and her husband Jim of Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Great-grandmother of Conner, Natalie, Josephine, and Giada 

Sister of Elmer Morse Jr. and his wife Jeannie of Foxborough, Phyllis Sherman and her husband Fred of Florida, and the late Richard Morse and his late wife Evelyn

Also survived by several loving nieces and nephews

At the request of Shirley’s family, all immediate funeral services will take place privately. 

A Celebration of Life will be held in Temple, New Hampshire in the Spring of 2025. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Shirley's name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at 320 Nevada Street, Suite 201, Newton, MA 02460 or by visiting www.alz.org/manh