Shirley Edsall

Shirley Edsall, age 94, passed away Nov. 8, 2024 in Cañon City, Colorado. Born in Hutchinson, Kansas on March 5, 1930 to Francis Patrick Shea and Goldie (Kaiser) Shea, she was one of seven children. The Shea's lived in Pratt for many years. It was in Pratt that Shirley met Donald Ray Edsall at the local roller-skating rink. They married soon after on June 26, 1947. She was 17 years old. He was 23, just home from serving in the Army during WWII. (They were married for 72 years.) Shirley and Don lived in Kansas until 1962 when they moved their family to Gunnison, Colorado. She enjoyed the outdoors, hiking, camping, fishing, and more. She and Don were camp hosts at Lake Irwin campground (just above Crested Butte) for twelve summers. Shirley was an avid reader and was very knowledgeable on many subjects. She lost her eyesight in 1997, however, being the fantastic role model that she was, she set out to find all the things that she could still do. She joined the National Federation of the Blind. And she started listening to audiobooks. The Cañon City library staff became some of her best friends. Living just across Macon Plaza from the library, she visited them often and was always so tickled when they found a new audiobook by one of her favorite authors. Shirley joined the TOPS organization while living in Gunnison in 1978. She continued her membership for 46 years. She attended many retreats, rallies, SRDs and IRDs all over the United States and Canada. She loved socializing with her TOPS "family" and was an inspiration to many. Shirley loved family and traveled any chance she got to visit with them and/or travel with them. Some of her favorite trips were to Hawaii, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, California, New Mexico, Idaho, Louisiana, Florida, Alaska and the Northwest Territory (via a motorcycle with Don), and a Caribbean Cruise. She was fun loving and adventurous. She was a devote Catholic who had a positive attitude and encouraged living life to the fullest! She is survived by her four children: Saundra Reed, Joy Sabatino, Sally Jane Edsall, and Don Edsall, Jr. One sister, Sherry Jo Coles. Six grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, three great-greatgrandchildren, and many other family members and friends. An Irish Wake style celebration will be held late spring at her home in Cañon City, where she lived for 32 years.

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