Shirley J. Paison

Shirley J. (Cox) Paison, age 92, departed this world on Friday, December 6, 2024, the day of her and Ken's 72nd wedding anniversary, at Browning Masonic Community in Waterville. She was born June 13, 1932, in Parma, Ohio, to the late Dayton M. and Perley (Cornell) Cox. She married her best friend, Kenneth, on December 6, 1952, at Morenci United Methodist Church. They both had a great love for family, small town life, dancing, fishing, and most of all traveling to see family. Together, they were members of Fayette United Methodist Church for nearly 70 years.
Over the years, she was active in the Order of Eastern Star, becoming a life member and holding a number of offices in Michigan and Ohio. Shirley was a past Worthy Matron of Excelsior #68 and Fairfield Chapter #224, and held dual membership with Wauseon, Ohio Chapter #68. She was a member of the Fayette Fire Belles for over 25 years.
Shirley loved to volunteer in any way she could while raising four children and working full time, from meals on wheels to the election board. Her working career spanned from Piddock Ford and Peter Stamping, both in Fayette, and Sauder Village in Archbold. But her most loved job was taking care of her family and volunteering at church.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Ken Paison, Portia (Roger) Garza, Janet (Jim) Payton, and Michele (Bruce) Short; 11 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Kenneth; a daughter-in-law, Jackie Paison; brother, Dayton Cox; and sister, Joyce Miller.
Memorial services for Shirley will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 3:00 PM, at the Fayette United Methodist Church, with visitation beginning at 2:00 PM. Interment will be at a later date in Pleasant View Union Cemetery, Fayette.
Online condolences to the family may be offered at www.eaglemarryfuneralhome.com. Memorial donations in Shirley's memory may be given to Browning Masonic Community of Waterville, 8883 Browning Drive, Waterville, OH 43566. The Eagle-Marry Funeral Home in Fayette is assisting the family with arrangements.