Shirley Ruth Fitzgerald Henneck was born on January 17th, 1926 in Elma, Washington to Adele (Bruneau) Fitzgerald and Ernest Fitzgerald. She was raised on the family homestead on Bush Creek, attended grade school in White Star and graduated from Elma High School. After graduating in 1944 she moved to Tacoma and worked in the Bremerton shipyards, doing her part for the war effort. After the war ended she moved to Pullman, Washington where she enrolled at Washington State University. During summer break after her first year of college she returned to the family home and worked at her parents’ roadhouse/gas station. During this time she started dating a local young man, Harry Henneck and the rest, as they say, is history.

Shirley and Harry married on December 28th, 1946 and over the next few years resided in Pacific Beach, Quinault and Hoquiam, Washington before settling in Elma. They raised three boys, Harry, Kurt and Gary. Over the years Shirley worked as a homemaker until she became employed at a local telephone company in the late ‘60s, and worked there until the early ‘80s. After her husband retired they traveled to places that they had neither the time nor money to visit during their working years. Some of these trips were made with good friends and some were taken with just the two of them.

Shirley enjoyed her friends, of which she had many, keeping her yard and flower beds maintained, playing cards, baking various treats for her grandkids and watching birds and other wildlife. She loved spending time at the family property near Lost Lake. She had a strong Catholic faith and was a long time member of St. Joseph’s parish in Elma. She was a sixty-five year member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie #1440, was a past president of the Ladies Auxiliary and was an early inductee into that aerie’s Hall of Fame.

In 2017 Shirley moved to Tumwater, Washington to be nearer family members. She remained there until her death, on February 20, 2024. She is survived by two sons, Harry and Kurt (Renee), five grandchildren: Rory (Jessica), Rachel (Luke), Jessica (Lucas), Harry, and Sierra (Mike); step-granddaughter Chelsea and five great-grandchildren: Paxton, Bruno, Harrison, Hendrix and Rose, as well as a beloved niece, Linda Fitzgerald, niece Loni Fitzgerald and other nieces and nephews.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ray Fitzgerald, her husband Harry, her son Gary and step-grandson Sebastian.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to favorite charities.