Shirley Leigh Pauole passed away peacefully on April 17, 2024, at the age of 82 surrounded by loved ones. Shirley was born to Iona and John Leigh on January 7, 1942, in Salt Lake City, UT. She grew up splitting her time between Salt Lake City and West Yellowstone, MT where her family owned and operated the Flying “L” Motel. Shirley was a graduate of East High School and attended the Church College of Hawaii for a time. She was a faithful and active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served a full-time mission in the New York, Cumorah Mission. Shirley later met and married her husband, Allan Pauole, while attending a singles ward in California. They were sealed together for time and all eternity in the Oakland, CA Temple on June 28, 1968.
Shirley fulfilled the most important job of raising children as a stay-at-home mother for over 20 years. She attended more soccer games, wrestling matches, dance recitals, field hockey games, choir concerts, basketball games, and track events than any other mother on earth. In her spare time Shirley loved to teach early morning seminary and taught for over 10 years. She was an excellent seamstress, carefully crafting holiday and formal dresses for her girls. She even opened shop with Shirley’s Bridal Designs out of the family’s home in New Jersey. Shirley went on to become a Hospice Volunteer after the family’s move to Maryland, helping many people transition to the other side. This led her to the job of Bereavement Coordinator with Hospice of Charles County where she ran support groups for grieving loved ones who experienced many different types of loss. This work was a calling for her and gave her great joy and purpose. With that job Shirley decided to go back to college to complete her bachelor’s degree in Humanities at the ripe young age of 62.
Shirley was not known for her cooking, but she was known for her orange rolls. She had a sweet tooth, a great sense of humor, a stash of chocolate in her underwear drawer, and she loved Valentine’s Day the best! She was an avid reader, a dancer from a young age, and she always knew who the killer was on every crime show within the first two minutes. She was an animal lover and had many cats throughout her life but her most recent companions, Addie and Sneakers, will miss her the most.
Shirley is survived by eight of her children Michael Kekoa (Marcie), David Kapena (Cheryl), Allan Keahi, Jennifer Pualani (Miles), Richard Kalihi (Allison), Stephanie Leilani (Brian), Katherine Kanani (Jon), and Kimberly Kapua (Andy). She is also survived by her sisters, Joan Leigh, Helene Rightenour, Jackie Ambler, and brother Dan Leigh. She is preceded in death by her first-born daughter, Dawn Lehua, and her husband of 45 years, Allan Pauole.
Shirley also leaves behind her 19 strong, independent granddaughters and 11 intelligent, kind grandsons. She earned her great-grandmother badge with the arrival of her first great grandson born earlier this year with two more arrivals anxiously expected.
Shirley’s absence will leave a deep void in our lives. Please help us fill that void by eating dessert before your dinner tonight, and definitely no vegetables because that’s what Shirley would have wanted.
Memorial Service will be Monday April 22, 2024 at 11:00 am at the LDS Chapel at 1865 S Higley Road Gilbert, AZ 85295. Those who wish to stream the service can use the following link: youtube.com
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local animal shelter, or adopting a cat or two and calling them both Shirley. Donations can also be made to Hospice of the Valley or Hospice of the Chesapeake.
Make a Secure Online Donation | Hospice of the Chesapeake (hospicechesapeake.org)
Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
My most sincere and heartfelt condolences for your loss! Each and every one of you are in my prayers! I can only imagine the joy as your mom was reunited with Allen, Lehua, and Grandma & Grandpa! May all our prayers be felt and bring you comfort. We love each one of you!
I am so sorry to hear this! She was my sister’s best friend since the early 1950’s in West Yellowstone. She was so friendly and kind and a wonderful human being.
I will miss my long time friend but I know that she is bringing happiness to those on the other side. I am so happy to have known this sister and her family. I will miss you.
My prayers to the family
I was so sorry to hear today that Shirley had passed away. We worked together at Hospice of Charles County, in Maryland. She was always a delightful person. I am sure the family and friends are going to miss her. Prayers for you guys.
I remember Shirley as a 15 year old teenager visiting her parents with Allen and the children. Jackie and I being best friends I would see Shirley often. I remember Shirley at Jackie’s wedding and how tiny she was compared to me in the wedding pictures. I remember how much Shirley loved her children and grandchildren and what an awesome Mom and grandmother she was. Most of all I remember how much Shirley and I connected as I became a senior citizen. She was a joy to know who loved the Lord and wanted to honor Him in all she said and did. My life has been Blessed having the privilege of knowing Shirley. She shall be missed. My sincere condolences to Shirley’s children, grandchildren and family at the loss of such a beloved and special woman. I know my life is far richier for knowing her. I will cherish our messenger messages always. God Bless you as you transition through the journey known as “grief” for there are No Words that can truly bring you solace. Only God can. May God bring you the comfort you need at this time.
I had the privilege of having dinner with Allen and Shirley every Sunday. Also taking in a couple of her children for a time. She has done so much for me. She was there when I lost my husband, Allen. She got me through. his death and a long time afterwards I love her very much and her children also, David and Allen, who were very special to me. She was a very special person and I loved her dearly. May God bless you, Shirley. I know that you’re at peace now.
I first met Shirley years ago when I moved into Copper Ranch Ward. We were made ministering companions. Shirley was so faithful in visiting our sisters and was especially concerned for our sweet Daisy. Shirley was an example of Christ like service and she was fun to be around with her spunk, wit and frank comments. I loved to attend her Gospel Doctrine class. What a talented, yet down to earth lady. She will be missed.
May I offer prayers of peace and comfort to all of the family. I know that you all will dearly miss her and pray that your treasured memory of her will keep you uplifted. Shirley was indeed so special in so many ways, for me, she had a way of making me feel like I was her best friend ever. So loving, kind, attentive, patient and funny. Shirley is someone I will carry with me in my heart and hope to hug fiercely (in the best way) when we meet again.
R.I.P. Shirley. I will always remember you as a kind hearted, generous person that I got to know while working together at Hospice of Charles County.
Thankful to find a friend like Shirley when we moved to Waldorf Maryland. I love her for her giant testimony of our Savior giving her the most amazing ability to get things done. Her moxie taught me that joy is truly in the confidence of doing. I loved her picking me and my 4 children up in her van to go to a folk festival with her and her children on the National Mall one summer day. Finding street parking and maneuvering the full sized van was no problem for Shirley. We all had a blast and no one was lost.
Her humor and spunk still warm me today. Love the mug she gave me stating “Things could be worse…you could put your bra on backwards and it could fit better.” God speed Shirley!