Shirley Prince, formerly of Hayesville, died on June 28, 2018, at her home at Lutheran Village following a long illness. She was 83.
The daughter of Walter and Lois (Betts) Mellor, she was born at home in Holmes County, Ohio, on June 17, 1935, and grew up on a working farm with her older brothers Malcolm and Edward. She graduated from Howard High School in 1952, and attended secretarial school in Columbus.
She met Wendell Prince in Mount Vernon when he moved into the duplex apartment next to hers. They were married in Howard, Ohio, October 17, 1963. After residing as a Navy couple in Norfolk, VA, and San Diego, CA, Shirley and Wendell moved to Hayesville in 1970 where they and then she lived until 2015.
Shirley is survived by daughter Janette and her husband Mike, and son Dan and his wife Emily. She adored her entire family, especially her grandchildren Jenn, Matthew, Bridget, Walter, and Rory.
She is also lovingly remembered by her brother Edward Mellor, sister-in-law Vernita Mellor, nieces Carolyn Bettac, Marilyn Mahoney, Kathryn Linder, Betsy Harris, and Wanda Kennedy, and sister-in-law Elaine Stovee. Her husband Wendell and her brother Malcolm preceded her in death.
Shirley was a member of Hayesville United Methodist Church since 1970. Her church family was special to her and she was always grateful for them.
After raising their kids, Shirley went back to work, retiring as the secretary at Christ United Methodist Church, after having previously worked as a temporary secretary at Hillsdale High School and other area businesses.
Once they retired, she and Wendell traveled many wonderful miles seeing the United States in their motorhome. She was an inspiration to many, a remarkable wife, mom, and grandma, aunt, sister, and friend. She will be missed immensely and in our hearts forever.
Her family is deeply grateful to her many friends and family members who visited and assisted her; to the caring staff of Lutheran Village, her home since July 2015; and to the compassionate staff of Pathways Hospice.
A memorial service will held at 11am on Saturday, August 4, at Hayesville United Methodist Church, friends may visit with the family from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Following the burial at Vermillion Cemetery a luncheon will be provided by Shirley's church family. Gifts of flowers are welcome, and memorial gifts may be made to Pathways Hospice, Lutheran Social Services Network of Hope, Hayesville United Methodist Church, or the American Heart Association.
For those not able to attend, expressions of sympathy may be made to the family by visiting denbowfh.com
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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