Shirley Ann Lempinen

Shirley Ann Lempinen passed away on November 8, 2025 at the age of 79. Her Celebration of Life is scheduled at Mission Family Mortuary on California Avenue in Bakersfield, California at 11:00 AM.
Shirley was born in Harlingen, Texas to Shelly Henry Gross and Dorothy Irene Gross, (maiden Pigg, later Joseph). She grew up with her older sister Mary Gross, (later Ross), her brother Ron Gross, and her close-as a-sister friend Loyce. She attended high school in Shafter, California where she met here sweet-heart "Eddie," Gunard Edward Lempinen. They married shortly after graduation and had two sons, Guy Edward Lempinen and Gunard Eric Lempinen. Shirley raised her boys with Eddie; they celebrated 53 wedding anniversaries together.
Shirley is survived by her son Guy, his wife Lisa Jeanette, and their children Kaytlynn and Benjamen, as well as her son Eric, his wife Stephanie, and their son Eric. She is also survived her brother Ron and his wife Martha. Additionally, she is survived by sisters-in- law, (Sandra and Judy) and several nieces and nephews, including those of the grand and great-grand variety.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, parents, parents-in-law, (Gunard, aka "Buck", and Marie), sister, and her sister-friend Loyce Tumey who passed only a few hours before her. There was an exciting reunion in heaven that day, but Grandma Shirley was likely even more excited about reuniting with her grandson. Samuel left Eric and Stephanie and the rest of us all too soon.
She will be fondly remembered by many whom she loved and that loved her. She may be remembered for her services as a cashier at Longs Drug store, or as a yard-aide at the school, perhaps for being room-mom for a classroom, or den-mother for a group of cub scouts. Mostly, she will be remembered for the way she cared for people. From fixing boo boos by her special way of applying a bandage to creating smiles with her cake decorating, from nursing the sick back to health to comforting those approaching their final moment, from listening intently to giving the best counsel she could, from baking cookies to giving hugs, from disciplining to forgiving, from accepting to protecting, she expressed her love in many ways to many people.
Though she knew there would be some sadness because we miss her, her desire was for us to remember her in memories that make us smile, memories of fun shared, and love expressed.