Shirley P. Shearer, 94, of Carson City, Nev., passed away on March 23, 2015, in the comfort of her home, with the great assistance of Saint Mary's Hospice and Home Instead, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
She was born Nov. 12, 1920, in Caldwell, Idaho, while her parents (Arther and Juliana Liotard Phillips) were on a "quick" trip from their home in Winnemucca, Nev. - a fact that she never forgave them for! In her heart she was a true Winnemuccan and Nevadan, though she was very proud of her French heritage.
Shirley started her education at the Winnemucca Grammar School and finished her education in Stockton, Calif., graduating from Stockton High and a business college in that area. In 1940 she met the love of her life, Otis (Deke) Shearer, in Fallon, Nev., while visiting family friends. It was a whirlwind courtship and they were married several weeks later. Shirley and Deke moved to Carson City in 1945 and remained there the rest of their lives.
Her true second love became the game of golf. She started playing golf after Deke came home from the Carson City Golf Course (at what is now Mills Park) and told her he needed a partner to play in the couple's golf tournament the following weekend. He gave her a few lessons in the cow pasture behind their house and from that point on her passion became golf, followed by a Basque Picon Punch and a good lunch. If Shirley wasn't at home or work she could be found on any and all golf courses. One of her favorites was the Winnemucca Golf Course, especially when attending the Winnemucca Ladies Invitational Golf Tournament. In 1970, Shirley was president of the Woman's Northern Nevada Golf Association and at one time was the president of the Eagle Valley Woman's Golf Club.
She retired from the State of Nevada Employment Security Department after thirty plus years of service. She retired as the assistant chief of benefits.
Shirley is survived by her daughter, Jerry Ann Fenkell (Dan Walker), of Carson City; granddaughters, Jacy Jackson (Charles), of Winnemucca, Jackie Sater (David), of Reno, Emily Shearer, of Dundee, Ore.; great grandchildren, Nick (Sarah), Raven and Colton Black, of Winnemucca, Eddie (Shelle) and Anjuli Silveira, of Reno, Oceana, Celeste, Zipporah and Nehemiah, of Dundee, Ore. She was preceded in death by her husband, Deke, son, Steve Shearer, parents and brother, Bud Phillips. At her request there will be no services. A celebration of life is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tree Fund Eagle Valley Golf Course, 3999 Centennial Park Drive, Carson City, NV 89706 or the Ladies Golf Club Girl's Scholarship Fund for Lowry High School, Karen Aldridge, P.O.Box 467, Winnemucca, NV 89446.
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