Shirley M. McConnell

Shirley May (Thompson) McConnell, 82, died November 27 after a brief but valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. Shirley was born May 11, 1934 in Wyanet, Illinois. She married John B. McConnell on June 20, 1954 in Rock Falls, Illinois. The young couple moved to California in 1956, living in Pomona and Montclair. They raised three children together, and they were proud parents who were involved with PTA, Little League, Campfire Girls, and school sports organizations to support their own and the community’s children. Shirley was known for her amazing arts and crafts, she encompassed Pinterest long before Pinterest existed. Upon the death of her beloved Johnny, she chose an independent life in which she worked for the Ontario-Montclair School District until her retirement. She found great joy in supporting teachers and working with children. In recent years, she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, going to the movies and restaurants, shopping on Amazon, and working on her family tree via Ancestry.com.Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, John B. McConnell; her parents, Howard Jasper “H.J.” and Leota Mae Thompson; and her brothers, Howard “Jay” Thompson and Richard “Dick” Thompson. She is survived by her brother Gary (Ursula) Thompson; her son, Mark (Leatha) McConnell; her daughters JoJean Vicioso and JoAnn (Kevin) Carlson; her grandchildren, Krista Carlson, Joseph Vicioso, Miranda (James) Robinson, Emily Vicioso, Samantha McConnell, Genevieve Vicioso, John McConnell, Bradley Carlson, April Carlson, and Brian Carlson; and her great-grandson James Rae “JR” Robinson.In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Shirley’s favorite charities: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the Wounded Warrior Project.Services will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 11:00 am at: McAulay & Wallace Mortuary, 902 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92832