Madison, Shirley

Shirley Madison - age: 91
(July 05, 1924 to December 08, 2015 )
Resident of Ukiah, California

Obituary:
SHIRLEY MADISON


Shirley Madison lived a full and loving life and died peacefully on December eighth in her home in Ukiah at the age of 91. Shirley was born on July 5, 1924, in Colorado. After graduation from Saguache High School, she attained her teaching certificate and taught elementary school in a variety of settings for several years.
On November 19, 1945, Shirley married Walter Madison, a gentleman she first met in high school. Together they crafted a rich life filled with family, friends and extensive travel. The Madisons lived in Delaware, the Southwest, and Oregon before finally moving to Ukiah in 1968.
Shirley was a highly regarded reading specialist in the Ukiah School District, primarily at Oak Manor School. She retired from the school district in 1988. However her love of reading and promoting literacy extended into her retirement as she read weekly in two elementary classrooms until two years ago. In addition, she volunteered in the Children's Room at the local library each Tuesday from 1989 into 2014.
For 25 years, Shirley was active in P.E.O., a philanthropic organization supporting young women pursuing higher education, and in Cultus Club, a local group which promotes cultural interests among its members.
Shirley was proceeded in death by her beloved husband, Walter, their son Michael and her parents. She is survived by her nephew Scott Martinez, his wife Cindy and son Avery; by her sister-in-law Lois Martinez, her husband Johnny, and their extended family; and by her half-sister Sue Grey and her husband Cliff, all of Colorado. In addition, Shirley was blessed with a coterie of friends whom she adored and thought of as family. Feeling the same toward her, they each provided comfort to her through her final illness and will cherish her memory.
There will be no public service. As Shirley was such an advocate of reading to and with children, a donation of a children's book or funds to purchase a book may be made to the Ukiah library and would be a lasting tribute to her.