Shirley Westmoreland, 80

Shirley Westmoreland passed away Thursday morning, Oct. 10, 2013, at St. James Hospital after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Her son and the caring staff and nurses, who had become friends with Shirley over the years, were with her when she passed.

Shirley was born Nov. 4, 1932, to Donald and Ethel (Sponagel) Gudgeon in Minneapolis. She grew up and attended local schools, including Minneapolis Vocational High School.

Shirley moved with her family in 1950 to Missoula, working part time and eventually full time at Woolworth's. She met Walter Westmoreland soon after, and they were married on May 24, 1952.

They moved to Seattle in 1953 where they lived for more than 18 years. In Seattle, Shirley worked at Wiefield’s Jewelers from 1953 to 1964, but took a break in 1964 when their son, Lyle, was born. She then went back to work in 1965 for Northwest Mortgage Co. before the family moved to Bemidji, Minn., in 1972.

The stay in Minnesota was brief, and a few months later it was decided to move to Montana. They eventually settled down in Helena, where she lived from 1972 to 1995. She worked at many different establishments over the years, but probably met the most people and made the most friends working at Martin's IGA in the Helena Valley for eight years, and as a lobby hostess at McDonald’s for eight years.

Shirley and Walter divorced in 1992, and she moved to Butte in 1995, where she worked as a greeter at Walmart but later became involved with the Head Start program as a foster grandparent. In the summers, she would work for local day cares, such as Shelley Fischer’s Daycare and King's Kids. Working with the kids was her most rewarding work. She loved them, and would often get hugs when they would see "Grandma Shirley" shopping at the grocery store or anywhere she was out and about. She was involved with Head Start for 14 years.

Before getting sick, Shirley was a member of TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) for many years. She had lots of good times, nice trips and memories with her TOPS friends. 

Shirley was a faithful member of the United Congregational Church of Butte and considers the members and friends from there her extended family. She enjoyed the fellowship and also helping where she could on various church fundraisers, such as baking pasties. The friends she made at the UCC and at First Christian Church, too, were incredible. The family can't thank them enough for the help with transportation and support in general. “Bruce, Bev and others — God bless!”

She enjoyed the simple things, such as get-togethers with family and friends, dining anywhere there was a good salad bar, playing bingo, visiting with and making friends on the city bus, and watching good movies or "The Price is Right." Shirley loved animals, and I'm sure if there is a place like the "Rainbow Bridge," Schatzie (the family German shepherd), Chelsea (her Dachshund), and Minker (a Siamese who thought he was king), are there to greet her! Mr. Big, her cockatiel, survives but has many friends at the print shop and may move to be with his adopted family at Insty-Prints.

Shirley is survived by her son, Lyle Westmoreland, and his girlfriend, Ellen Hardcastle of Butte; half-sisters, Marlene Anderson of Tucson, Ariz., Charlene and Charles Spitler of Belleview, Fla., Janice and Steve Kern of Phoenix, and Rita and Scott Marshall of Rosemont, Minn.; and half-brothers, Dennis and Sarah Gudgeon of Ketchikan, Alaska, and Calvin and Nancy Gudgeon of Staples, Minn. She is also survived by her sister-in-law and longtime friend, Phyllis Stockwell of Kalispell, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; stepmother, Lillian Gudgeon; her brother, Ray Gudgeon; her brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Marguerite Gudgeon; her brother and sister-in-law, Don and Carol Gudgeon; her niece, Debbie Gudgeon; and her brother-in-law, Willard Stockwell.

“We will miss you like crazy, but you fought the good fight, and your time to rest has come.

"In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity — in our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory!"

In accordance with her requests, cremation has taken place at Butte Crematories. 

A celebration of Shirley’s life will be conducted at the United Congregational Church with Pastor Sandy Van Zyl officiating on a day and time to be announced.

Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Axelson Alternative Cremation is privileged to serve the Westmoreland family.