WA - Shirley Lois Pehrsson, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, and dear friend, passed away peacefully on July 15, 2025, in Woodinville, Washington, at the age of 94. Born on March 5, 1931, in Edmonton, AB, Canada. Shirley was a beacon of warmth, adventure, and resilience throughout her remarkable life. Shirley's early years were marked by both joy and hardship. She lost her mother at the tender age of 16 months, an event and young childhood that shaped her strength and independence. Penicillin had not yet been approved in Canada, which likely could have saved her mom Hilda. Shirley's grandmother Anne moved in with the family. Shirley was very close with her father Fred, and together they performed artistic gymnastics poses, even making it into the Vancouver Sun newspaper with pictures and all. Even as a child, Shirley was driven and spirited — an adventurous soul who loved connecting with people and exploring the world around her. After graduating high school, Shirley worked in the insurance industry for several years.

At 22, she embarked on a life-changing journey aboard the Lurline ship, sailing from San Francisco to Hawaii to visit friends. Captivated by travel, she returned to Vancouver, Canada for a few years to save up for an extended world tour adventure, visiting many interesting places and making wonderful friends along the way. Departing from Canada she traveled to China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Hawaii, England, several countries in Europe, the Suez Canal, across the Mediterranean and the States. During these travels Shirley lived in Hawaii for a year working as Manager of the Public Relations Department for the five Sheraton Hotels in Waikiki. Then London for a year working in the advertising department of a large fashion house on Bond Street, traveling to Europe on her time off visiting many countries. Shirley finished her trip in New York and settled in working for a Law office on Wall Street. In 1961, while living in New York and visiting friends at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey, Shirley met her prince charming, Captain Bob Pehrsson. They were married soon after and began their life together, moving to different Air Force bases. During this time, they had two children, Robert and Karen. They finally settled in Washington.

Bob's career in the Air Force required regular deployments to Vietnam. In Shirley's autobiography, she remarked "Bob may have been the only military man there whose wife had been to Vietnam before him." Bob retired as a Major and began a new venture as the Manager for his brother-in-law Don's sign company in Mukilteo. They built their dream home and raised a loving family filled with adventure, joy, and shared purpose. Shirley was an astute business woman, having made investments such as real estate. She was financially savvy, most everything she touched incredibly prospered. She also enjoyed helping friends file their taxes. Shirley founded Olympus Terrace Garden club back in the mid to late 1970's, which we are told is alive and well today. She also served on the Mukilteo City Council and petitioned for a new park near their home and took great pride in its completion.

Bob and Shirley were a strong pair — active in the community, bridge groups, gourmet club. As a family they enjoyed boating, water skiing and vacations. They faced the hard times together with such great strength and love. Shirley's father Fred passed in 1988 after a lengthy decline due to Alzheimer's. Shirley and Bob were married for 30 years before Bob passed away in 1991, attributed to complications of diabetes. This was an incredibly despairing time, they were very grateful for the support of family and friends.

A few years after Bob's passing, Shirley found companionship and love again with Jim Pountain, who served in the Navy and retired from Boeing. They moved to Sun City West, Arizona, where they lived for about 20 years. Shirley volunteered at the Sheriff's office answering the phones. She opened a chapter of the Red Hat's Society, a charitable organization, for whom she organized events, gatherings and trips. She was admired by so many — her friends fondly called her "Shirl-girl". Shirley and Jim led an active lifestyle, traveling, golfing and spending time with family and friends. Her grandsons Dane and Cannon have fond memories of riding on their golf cart with Shirley spotting different species of cactus, playing putt-putt golf, doing cannon-balls in their pool, exploring their backyard oasis while on the hunt for Easter eggs, and picking lemons from their lemon tree. Jim and Shirley endearingly named their home the "PehrPount Last Resort." In 2010, Shirley suffered the heartbreaking loss of her son Robert, also due to complications of diabetes.

Despite such profound grief, Shirley found inner strength to navigate forward, leaning on family and friends. Because of health issues in 2015, Jim and Shirley returned to the Northwest so they both could be closer to their families. Unfortunately, Jim passed a couple of years later.

Shirley's final decade was spent in Woodinville, Washington living independently close to her daughter Karen and son-in-law Tom, and grandsons Dane and Cannon — of whom she was incredibly proud. She delighted in watching them grow into responsible young men and celebrated their milestones with pride and joy. She especially enjoyed viewing photos of her grandsons' travels abroad, as she took such delight knowing how wonderful the adventure of travel is. Shirley inspired Karen to travel a lot as a young adult as well.

Shirley approached life with gratitude, vigor, and a contagious zest. She once wrote in her autobiography, "In my early 20's I was worried that I wouldn't have an interesting life. But I was wrong." She filled her 94 years with a lifetime of stories — tempered by hardship and rich with love, family, friendships, strength, laughter, and an unwavering positive attitude. Shirley always persevered with such optimism, a testament to her enduring spirit and desire to uplift others.

Shirley is survived by her loving daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Tom Skalski; grandsons Dane and Cannon Skalski; sister-in-law Ethel Armitage; five nieces and nephews and their children; extended family and countless friends she treated as family. She lived independently up to her last day preparing for a game of bridge, passing away peacefully in her home — a perfect representation of her unwavering vitality. She is now reunited with her beloved Bob and Jim, son Robert, mother Hilda, father Fred, stepmother Vera, brother Don, in-laws Ralph and Jean, and all those who went before her. Shirley's light, joy, support, and legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

In honor of Shirley the family suggests donations to Alzheimer's and Diabetes research. A celebration of Shirley's extraordinary life will be held at a later date.