Jean Florence (Kramer) Shirley

Jean Florence Shirley passed away on June 29, 2023, at home, where she resided for the past 76 years, with her daughter and family by her side after a 5-year battle with Dementia.

Jean was born on February 2, 1930, in Deeland, Florida to the late William F. and Mary Alice (Brewer) Kramer. They moved back to Ohio where her father was originally from and resided in Edison, Ohio. She went to Edison school and there met the love of her life Leonard Shirley Jr., and they were married on February 26, 1947, at the Edison Methodist Church parsonage. They moved to Denmark in 1948.

For a few years Jean worked at North Electric in Galion but was fortunate enough to be able to return to what she loved best, staying home and tending to her family, garden, and flowers. She always loved the spring when she could get her seedlings ready in pots to transfer to her little green house and plant in her garden when ready. She loved gardening, her flowers and said there was nothing better than working the ground, planting, and watching God do the rest. She loved to can and would put up as much as she had, if family needed some, she was always willing to share. She loved to cook, was good at it and made wonderful rhubarb custard pie among many other things. She also was a wonderful seamstress.

She and Leonard loved boating and water skiing at the Delaware dam and the Maumee River and loved taking the grandkids with them on the weekends. They enjoyed traveling with friends to Myrtle Beach and in later years spending time in Kissimmee and Winter Haven, Florida not far from their daughter and son in law. She also loved to crochet and knit making sure everyone in the family had slippers, dollies, and Afghans. Yes, that was her specialty in making them while the grandchildren and great grandchildren were young, taking a picture of them with it, writing a note for when they would graduate.

To say she loved her family would be an understatement, she worshipped them all. She watched her grandchildren anytime it was needed, never saying no unless she was ill. And just when she thought that time was probably done the great grandchildren began to come. She loved children so she and Leonard never said no unless they absolutely could not change their plans but yet they would bow out of something just to spend time with them. They always were the kids' support. She loved being outside swinging in the swing and making sure they had their popcorn and kool-aid in the summertime. That was always such a treat and the kids thought they were in heaven. She always made us feel we were so very special in our own way.

Jean always believed in the Lord and would tell anyone what she thought and what you needed to do to be saved. She was a member of Dayspring Wesleyan Church in Marion. She loved to volunteer for many things until she was not able to do so anymore. She especially loved her time in the Nursery. She always said those little ones say the sweetest things. Every week she looked forward to Quilting with the ladies, monthly prayer breakfast, and Sunday School class. She truly loved the Lord.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon F. Sherer of Marion, grandchildren: Michele (Doug) Gruber of Edison and Michael A. (Brandy) McKinney of Mount Gilead; great-grandchildren: Sara (Bradley) Craig of Marion, Scott (Abigail) Gruber of Delaware, Nicholas M. and Tyler L. McKinney of Mount Gilead; great-great grandchildren: Colt, Kennedy, Carson, and Corbin Craig of Marion and Paxton Gruber of Delaware, her brother Alan Kramer of Centerburg, and his sons and their families William (Denise) Kramer, Alan and Ben of Mount Vernon, and John (Niki) Kramer, Ava and Cole of Pittsburgh PA.

Friends may call on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at Gompf Funeral Home, 440 Center Street in Cardington with the funeral directly following at 3:00 PM with Pastor Chuck Osborne officiating. Following the service, the burial will take place in the Glendale Union Cemetery.

The family would like to especially thank all of her caregivers over the past 5-years. Without them we would not have been able to keep mother at home and receive such excellent care. Special thanks to Tiffany, Latoya and Shae. Also thank you to Ohio Health Hospice and their team, they all have been wonderful.

Memorial contributions may be made to Dayspring Wesleyan Church, Ohio Health Hospice of Marion and or the Dementia/ Alzheimer of Columbus.

Gompf Funeral Service of Cardington is honored to have been chosen to assist the Shirley family with Jean's final wishes and condolences may be expressed at www.gompffh.com.