Obituary: Clark, Shirley Jean
Age 92
A family graveside service at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, WA will take place on Saturday morning February 7th.
A Memorial Service will be held later that day at 3:30pm at Rose Hill Presbyterian Church in Kirkland, WA.
A small service in her honor will also be held in Spokane, WA at the Touchmark Retirement Center on Wednesday January 11th at 2:00 pm, where Shirley lived for most of her last nine years.
Shirley was born in Fort Collins, Colorado to John and Cleo Fallon on August 8, 1922.
She was the youngest of three children.
Her two brothers, John L. Fallon and Richard G. Fallon have preceded her in death.
Shirley spent her entire childhood in Fort Collins and graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1940.
On May 27, 1941 Shirley married long time beau Dr. Frederick C. Cummings, shortly after Fred graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado State College.
They started their married life by driving to Seattle, WA, where they began their new life together and Fred set up his veterinary practice.
Fred was stricken with polio in 1948 and became a quadriplegic.
For their remaining 24 years together Shirley worked tirelessly beside him to help him rebuild his veterinary practice and to care for him while raising two daughters and serving in her community and church.
Shirley served many years with the March of Dimes Polio Drive; the Seattle Children’s Hospital Auxiliary Guild and was honored as Mother of the Year in 1964 by the University Commercial Club in Seattle for “the constant help and companionship she had given to her husband”.
Upon Fred’s death in 1972 she embarked on a new career and became a medical assistant until her retirement in 1986.
Shirley married Robert E. Gough in 1974, and together they enjoyed 16 happy years together traveling and enjoying their combined nine grandchildren.
Shirley was widowed again and married Robert Clark in 1992.
She became widowed for the third time in 1999.
Shirley spent many years ministering to others through Bible Study Fellowship Leadership, The Gideon Bible Society, and the visitation program at WA State Women’s Correctional Institute at Purdy WA.
She also served faithfully in many capacities at Rose Hill Presbyterian Church.
Shirley was a beautiful woman inside and out, known for her strength of character and perseverance, coupled with a gracious and loving spirit.
Her faith in Christ was the bedrock of her life and she was a great inspiration to all who knew her.
She was fondly known as “Nana” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and many others whose life she graced with her love and presence.
She will be greatly missed by so many.
She is survived by her two daughters, Carolyn Jean Erickson (Bradley) of Preston, WA, Catherine Maree Cosby (Clark) of Spokane WA; step-daughter Lauren Weigum (Kenneth) of Redmond WA; nine grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren.
Suggested Memorials in Shirley’s honor can be made to the Gideon Bible Society, The Union Gospel Mission of Spokane or Hospice of Spokane.
Funeral Arrangements provided by Hennessey Funeral Home in Spokane WA.
Please visit Shirleys on line memorial at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com