Shirley Irmgard Walters

Shirley Walters, our dear mother, grandmother, and best friend, peacefully exhaled her last breath on June 11, 2025 at 10:30 am at the age of 89. She was at home with her two daughters, Tamara Walters of Tucson, Arizona, and Kimberly Joran of Fort Collins, Colorado, and her grandpup, Paris, by her side. Final farewells were shared in person or by phone with her two grandchildren, Nathaniel Goodman of Chicago, Illinois, and Kiva Goodman of Tucson, Arizona; her son-in-law, Tom Jordan and grandcat, Bob of Fort Collis, Illinois; sisters, Patricia Shank and Maxine Sieler of Rapid City, South Dakota; and nieces, nephews and friends.

Shirley Irmgard Hardy was born to Arthur and Irmgard (Lehmann) Hardy on February 5, 1936 in Rapid City, South Dakota. She and her two sisters, Pat and Max, grew up on their wheat and cattle farm in Sturgis where they played with their dog, Shep, were chased by geese, made dolls out of hollyhocks, and walked miles to the one-room county school. The lessons of hard work, family values, and being wild and free stayed with Shirley for life.

The family later moved into town where Shirley attended school, took piano lessons, played the clarinet in the marching band, joined Job's Daughters, handing out trophies at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, worked at a drug store and A&W, and had many friends. She was intelligent, beautiful and ambitious. Her grandmother, Marie Lehmann, showed her how to get things done her way. One time she resolved a conflict between Shirley and her mother about wearing a shawl over a strapless prom dress. Little Grandma said to wear it to the car and leave it there. Shirley used similar tactics later in life with her own children. Her father Art, took his daughters clothes, dressed to the nines, and was a class act.

Shirley attended the Colorado Sate College of Education in Greeley, Colorado, with the intentions of becoming a school teacher. She was a member of the Delta Sigma Epsilon sorority. It was there she met Clarence Walters, whom she married. Tamara was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming on December 10, 1956 and Kimberly was born June 29, 1961 in Fort Collins, Colorado where both children were raised. After the divorce, she managed her rental properties, and worked in the office of a dentist and then the Larimer County Health Department. Shirley was always independent, self-sufficient and a good money manager.

Her home was open to her many friends, and most mornings were spent with a group of them around the kitchen table smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, and laughing hysterically. She played bridge, bowled on a league, took belly dancing, suntanned, red cookbooks, and buzzed around town in her convertible Volkswagen Bug. The farm girl enjoyed planting flowers and mowing her lawn in a bikini. Holidays were special and each Thanksgiving she made the best turkey ever, and each Christmas she hung tinsel on the tree strand by strand.

Her pride and joy were her two daughters, Tammy and Kim. She attended every school and sport event, drove them and their friends in VW Bug, made sure they were stylish in mini-skirts and go-go boots, hosted sleep-overs and parties, and encourage them to do or be anything they desired. She left a lasting impression on everyone she met, and was adopted as a second mom by several of her daughter's friends.

After become and empty nester, Shirley lived for shorts stints in Phoenix near her daughter; Rapid City with her sisters aka The Hardy Girls; near Denver where she owned and successfully operated a Lotions & Potions franchise with Kim for ten years; and eventually settled in Tucson to be near her two grandchildren.

What blessing for Nate and Kiva to have grown up with their grandma's loving care and comfort. Grams transported to and from school and packed delicious snacks, helped with homework, covered sick days (some were faked to be spoiled even more), and attended all school and sport events. Grammy introduced them to Las Vegas, fine dining and the theater. They learned the art of budgeting and often wondered what they would each without a coupon. Shirley bragged about them to everyone she met, and Nate and Kiva loved her dearly.

In the adult lives of her daughters and grandchildren, Shirley continued to be a guiding light of unwavering and unconditional love, encouragement, wisdom, honestly, and integrity. Her determination to enjoy her life up to the very end was remarkable. What a wonderful life she had, and she did it her way. What a wonderful life she gave us, and she was the wind beneath our wings. It is now your time, Shirley, to get on the road again and soar high. We will love you and miss you forever. Hallelujah!