Shirley J. (Hess) Bahler

Obituary Shirley J. Bahler Shirley J. Bahler, born January 24, 1928, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by family members on November 4, 2015. Shirley was the eldest of five children born to Laurence and Ellen Hess: Robert L. Hess, Donna Lee, Lorraine Kirk, and Janet Williamson. She grew up on a small farm in Parkland. At 12 years of age she was a baton twirler in the Daffodil Parade. She was an active student in Lincoln High School, lettering in P.E. leadership, singing in an acapella choir, and helping her mother with Girl Scouts. Shirley worked for Durdle's Ice Creamery during high school where she met her best friend Mary's brother James Bahler as he came home from WWII. After graduation Jim and Shirley were married on August 3, 1946. They had 6 children together: Stephen J. Bahler, Lawrence G. Bahler, Jeanne M. Taylor, Barbara E. Ray, Carla A. Hall, and Margaret C. Hart. At the time of this writing, she has 16 living grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren with three more on the way! Shirley is survived by her siblings, Donna Lee, Larraine Kirk, and Janet Williamson. A Funeral Mass in her honor will be celebrated on Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 11:00am at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Tacoma with reception to follow. Entombment at Calvary Cloisters. If you want to give a gift on her behalf, please donate to: Students for Life of America, 9900 Courthouse Road, Spotsylvania, VA 22553-9912. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.