Shirley Ann Chorvat

1942 - 2025

Chorvat, Shirley Ann
Dec 29, 1942 - Oct 26, 2025
Shirley Chorvat, a much-loved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Spokane, Washington, on October 26, 2025. She was 82 years old.
At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by her husband, Michael, and the love of her entire family. Shirley was born on December 29, 1942, in Concord, California, the third of four children (Jack, Gerry, Shirley, and Dewey) born to Percy and Beulah Mae Robbins. Shirley attended Mount Diablo High School in Concord and, after graduation, worked as a Dental Receptionist and eventually as a Dental Technician. Then, the travel bug hit her. She went to school and became a Flight Attendant for Trans International Airlines (TIA). It was while she was a stewardess for TIA that she met the love of her life and devoted husband of 57 years, Mike (who, at the time, was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force). They were married on May 11, 1968.
Shirley loved to travel, and she loved the adventurous life. While in the military, she and Mike were stationed in California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Alabama, and finally in Washington State. From Shirley's strong family background and her love for family, the couple welcomed their daughter, Stacy, in 1969, and their son, Chris, in 1973. Throughout the years, Shirley made a vast number of true friends and acquaintances. Shirley had the amazing personal quality of making friends everywhere she went. She was easy to talk to and enjoyed exchanging ideas with everyone she encountered. She was magic!
The family retired from the Air Force in 1989, and Shirley decided she loved living in Spokane. The family stayed in Spokane, and the blessings of grandchildren made her family grow: three grandsons and a granddaughter (Sage Chorvat, Robert Fitzgerald, Bodhi Chorvat, and Kera Fitzgerald). Shirley just loved kids. She loved being around kids. She loved talking to them, playing with them, teaching them, and she loved telling them stories about the world. In fact, she loved them so much that she became, and was, a teacher's aide at Farwell Elementary School for many years. Eventually, she moved on to become a teacher's aide, a library aide, and the head of the sick/First Aid Room at Brentwood Elementary School. Kids just loved her, and she loved them.
Shirley retired in 2005, but she still had the travel bug. She wanted to become a "Snowbird." Mike, a big truck, and a fifth wheel made it possible. She enjoyed camping. She hit the Washington Coast, the Oregon Coast, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, California, and much more. Even throw in Hawaii, just because.
Shirley's circle of friends grew and grew. She loved to dance, she loved to garden, she loved to grow flowers on her back deck, she loved music and to read, but most of all she loved to laugh. Her heart was large and always open to those in need. A truly adored and loved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Shirley passed peacefully into the arms of Our Lord, holding onto the hand (and the heart) of her loving husband.
At Shirley's request, there will be no public services, but rather a Celebration of Life at a later date.