Shirley passed away peacefully on July 31 at New Haven Assisted Living, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Born in Burlington, Vermont on September 24, 1929, Shirley was the daughter of the late Theron Porter Guild and Mattie Somerville Guild. She graduated from Burlington High School in 1947 and the University of Vermont in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in music (voice) and earned her Master of Education at UVM and her PhD in Music Education at NOVA Southeastern University in Florida.
Shirley was a lifelong music educator. She taught music for 14 years in several schools in Vermont before moving to Marco Island, FL in the mid 1970s with her family. After moving to Fort Myers, FL in the early 1980s she continued teaching music at several Charter schools until she retired. She married Warren Robinson Austin III in 1952 and had six children and in 1980 she married Robert Brodhecker in Fort Myers, Florida.
An active church member throughout her life, Shirley was a 50 year member of the First Congregational Church, in Burlington, VT where for many years she directed the church choirs, was a soloist and especially enjoyed directing the Austin Handbell choirs. While teaching in Florida she introduced handbells to the Fort Myers school system founding “The Merry Ringers”, performing throughout the state. She also enjoyed being a member of P.E.O groups in VT, FL, and SC. After Robert passed away Shirley moved to North Myrtle Beach to live near her daughter Denise and her husband Wayne. She quickly joined the Trinity Methodist Church and both the church and handbell choirs.
Shirley was predeceased by Warren Robinson Austin III, her sisters Norma Jean Guild, Loraine Thorpe, and three of her children; Warren Robinson Austin IV, Adam Porter Austin, and Denise Austin-Hewitt. Shirley is survived by her son Dana Robinson Austin; son Dustin Guild Austin and wife Paula; daughter Donna Austin-Hawley and husband Gary and son-in-law Wayne Hewitt. Shirley adored her ten grandchildren, Brandi and husband Scott, Dustin II and wife Jennifer, Dennille and husband Ryan, Mattie, Stephen, Samuel, Robin, Kelly, Lucas, Lindsay and her seven great grandchildren.
The family would like to sincerely thank and acknowledge the Hewitt family for their generosity, help and love given to “Miss Shirley” throughout her time in SC along with the special care she received daily from the caretakers at New Haven Assisted Living and Agape Hospice care.
Contributions may be made in Shirley’s memory to the music programs at the First Congregational Church UCC, 38 South Winooski Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401 or the Trinity Methodist Church 706, 14th Avenue South, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582.
A memorial will be held on Monday, August 8, 11:00 a.m. at the Lee Funeral Home, 11840 Highway 90, Little River, SC.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18