Born in Calgary, Canada, Shirley graduated from Calgary General Hospital School of Nursing in 1959 and four months later, with her good friend Heather Kraft, moved to Delano, California to start their nursing careers. There, she met the love of her life, Don, and after a yearlong courtship, the two traveled back to Calgary to be married in St. Matthew’s United Church on June 3, 1961. After honeymooning through the western U.S., the newlyweds moved into a house on Main Street in Delano that Don and brother Bruce had helped to build across the street from the family business, Whitten Pumps. Shirley worked at Delano Hospital until the birth of her son, Ken, and also worked for a time as an office nurse for local doctors and for Head Start. As her family grew, Shirley was active in local schools, volunteered with Cub Scouts, and served as a grief counselor for families receiving hospice care.
No matter what adversity came her way, Shirley met it with determination, humor, and hope. She had a deep and abiding faith in God and was a devoted member, volunteer, donor, and lay reader for Delano United Methodist Church for nearly 60 years. Her time leading women’s bible study groups and helping with Sunday services were some of her most cherished moments. Over their 60 years of marriage, Shirley and Don shared a love for travel, visiting at least 24 countries around the globe and compiling detailed photo albums to share with family. Her photography was one of many creative outlets for Shirley, along with crewel embroidery, needlepoint, golf, writing beautiful sermons and letters, and singing in the church choir. She made sure her home was always filled with music and with friends, including the many friends of her children who considered her their second mom.
She is lovingly remembered by her husband of 60 years, Donald Dyar; her son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Heidi Dyar; her daughter and son-in-law, Katherine and Mark Edwards; her beloved grandchildren Michael, Samantha, and Zoe; her sisters Sharon (Mel) Sly, Pam Armstrong (Brian Arcand), and Patrice (Pat) O’Brien; her brothers-in-law Bruce, David, and Michael Dyar; and numerous dear nieces, nephews, and extended family in Canada, Oregon, and California. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ken and Anne Ruttle, and her sister, Georgina.
If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to Hoffmann Hospice of Bakersfield, whose staff we deeply thank for their compassionate care for Shirley in these last days.
