Shirley A. LaRoe

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Shirley LaRoe, who left us peacefully on February 22, 2025, at the age of 93. She was surrounded by her loved ones during her final days.
Shirley was born on July 26, 1931, in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada, to Clifford and Mary McDonald. During her early years she and her family moved several times for her dad's work as a crane operator in the United States. In 1943 her family moved back to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, before settling in Swan Lake, Manitoba, in 1945.
She attended business college in Winnipeg and graduated as a legal secretary. She followed her sister, Norma, back to the United States to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she worked as a legal secretary for ten years. Then her adventurous side kicked in and she decided to move to Anchorage, Alaska, on her own. She started out on a plane but those who knew her knew that she got airsick and got off the plane in Cutbank, Montana, where she continued by bus the rest of the way to Anchorage. It was in Anchorage she met the love of her life, John LaRoe. They married on September 6, 1961, and shared 50 years of love and companionship. Together, they raised two children, Sheri and Chris, who brought joy and pride to their lives. Their adventures together took them to live in Edmonton, Alberta, Sacramento, San Jose, Albuquerque, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City.
Shirley was a devoted and loving wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, daughter, sister, and aunt, always putting family first and cherishing every moment spent together. Her best friend was her sister Norma with whom she shared everything. She had a witty sense of humor and loved family dinners, laughing, gardening, reading, CHOCOLATE, and traveling in their motorhome, especially the Pacific coast.
Shirley's legacy will live on through the countless lives she touched. She is survived by her children Sheri/Dave Goettsche, Chris/Penne LaRoe, grandchildren Chelsea LaRoe, Jillian LaRoe/Neal Swayze, Jason LaRoe, Chase/Katy Goettsche, Daryl/Kyle Shields, great-grandkids Peirce, Bentley, Millie, Abbie, and Kennie. She is preceded in death by her husband John LaRoe, parents Mary and Clifford McDonald, her brother Robert McDonald, and sister Norma Seebinger.
A celebration of Shirley's life will be held on March 8, 2025, at 1:00 PM at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E Dimple Dell Road (10600 S), Sandy, UT, with a reception to follow at Dave and Sheri's. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Shirley's honor.
We invite all who knew Shirley to share their memories and stories here at larkinmortuary.com, where we can come together to celebrate her extraordinary life.
Rest in peace, Shirley, Mom, Grandma. You will be deeply missed and forever loved.