Shirley Dolores Barnard

Obituary of Shirley D. Barnard

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held, 10:30 am, Thursday, February 25th at St. Rita Catholic Church, 10029 NE Prescott St. with a recitation of the rosary at 10 am.

Shirley Dolores was born February 10, 1931 in Seattle, Washington one of six children born to Albert S. and Catherin (Persinger) Smith. Three months after birth her father died and she was raised by her single mother. Moving to Portland with her family in 1936 she attended St. Andrews Elementary, Madeline and Jefferson High School. After graduation she worked for Pacific NW Bell as an operator from 1950-1953. She married Jack Thoreau, March 14, 1953 and from this union she had six children.   In 1960 she went back to work for them and was a clerk from 1960-1963. She was also a neighborhood Avon Rep in the 1970’s.  Shirley was a member of both St. Therese and then later with St. Rita’s Catholic Church from 1973. She was also active with the Silver Sneakers at her athletic club, a Madison South neighbor-hood organizer, involved with the TOPS program, and the Navy League of the United States and the Oregon Maritime Museum. She enjoyed reading, sewing, traveling and spending time with her family.

Shirley is survived by 5 of her 6 children; Gayle, Kenny, Jimmy, Billy and Deanna, grandchildren; Angel and Anissa Cobb, sister; Gloria King.  She was predeceased by her husband Veteran’s Day 2002, daughter Denise in 2003. Siblings; Marguerite, Emily, Helen and Albert.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oregon humane society

Committal services will be held at Willamette National Cemetery where she will be buried with her husband.