Shirley C. Heise

She was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, August 23, 1922, the daughter of William and Beatrice (Stickney) Curtis.

She grew up in West Palm Beach attending local schools and received a Bachelor Degree in Education from Florida State University. She later received her Masters Degree in Education from Keene State College.

Shirley began her 44 year teaching career in elementary education in West Palm Beach. During this time, she met her future husband, Roy Heise, while he was stationed in the Navy at Fort Pierce. The couple moved to Richmond in 1947 where she continued teaching elementary school, first in Marlborough, NH and then for thirty-four years at Wheelock School in Keene, NH.

Her other passion was as the owner, along with her husband, of Shir-Roy Camping Area in Richmond beginning in 1956. Shirley especially enjoyed the many friends she came to know who visited the campground whether it was once a year for vacation or for the whole summer. Some of these relationships have continued through generations, making these friends part of a larger extended family. This passion also brought Shirley her most cherished gifts; all three of her children Merrie, Theo and Blair met their spouses at the campground which gave her the grandchildren and great grandchildren she adored. She always looked forward to having family around her especially during the holidays.

Shirley and Roy were founding members of the New Hampshire Campground Owners Association. She served this Association in many capacities: on the board of directors for 15 years, chaired and was a member of various committees after serving on the board. Because promoting camping and preserving its history was so important to her Shirley made sure her husband Roy's dream of a family camping museum came to life. She was the president and chairperson of the board for the Museum of Family Camping. She was a former member of the women’s auxiliary of the Richmond Fire Department and was active in running their BINGO games and in their fund raising events to build a new fire station. She was also a member and past president of the Cheshire County Retired Teachers Association.

She is survived by her daughter, Theo Bassett and her husband, Howard, of Keene; her son, R. Blair Heise, II and his wife, Jennifer, of Richmond; grandchildren, Andrea Williams and husband Roman, Jennifer Zimmerman and husband Gary, Kimberly Morin and husband Jeff, Michael Bailey and wife Christy, Megan Bassett, Spencer Heise, Daniel Heise, Trevor Heise; great-grandchildren, Tyler Morin, Michael Bailey, Jaxon Bailey, Cameron Zimmerman, Dylan Zimmerman; and her son-in-law, Edward Bailey of Derry, NH. She was predeceased by her husband of 46 years, Roy B. Heise in 1991 and a daughter, Meredith Bailey in 1999.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at 10:00AM in the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene. Burial will follow in the Earl Howard Cemetery, East Athol Road, Richmond, NH. Family and friends are invited to call on Monday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Foley Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice in her name.