Shirley Anne Weston

Shirley Anne Weston (Scolere, Craddock), 80, passed away August 20, 2015. Mrs. Weston was born in Pueblo, September 19, 1934, to Charles and Georgianna Scolere. After receiving B.A. degrees in English and History from Marycrest College in Davenport, Iowa, she returned to Pueblo to teach at Pueblo Catholic High. In 1958 she married Jack DeSilver Craddock, a native Puebloan, who would go on to serve as Pueblo County Manager from 1975 until his death in 1987. A decade later, Shirley married Herbert James Weston, who passed away in 2009. Mrs. Weston subsequently taught at Holy Trinity School in Trinidad, Aguilar Middle School, Pinon Middle School and Pueblo County High School, where she taught English and coached the school’s nationally recognized speech and debate team until her retirement. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Weston was extremely active in Democratic Party politics. In 1978 she was named Vice Chair of the Pueblo County Democratic Party and, in 1983, was elected to the party’s top post. Described at that time by the Pueblo Chieftain as “the feisty Pueblo educator who cut her teeth in party politics more than 20 years ago,” she served as the Democratic Party chairwoman until declining to seek another term in 1991. Her 8-year tenure was among the longest in state party politics. In 1985, she was one of two Puebloans appointed by Gov. Roy Romer to “Directions 2000,” a statewide commission convened to revitalize the Democratic Party. Mrs. Weston also served as Vice President of the Pueblo County Teachers’ Association and was a member of the teachers’ negotiating committee. Upon retiring from teaching, she served as a volunteer docent at Rosemount Museum. She was also an avid artist and poet, and has been published in several anthologies. Mrs. Weston was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Scolere and Georgianna Scolere; husbands, Jack DeSilver Craddock and Herbert James Weston; and grandson, John D. Craddock. She is survived by sisters, Corrine (Samo) Dovgan and Mary Jo (Terry) Loder; four sons, John C. (Theresa) Craddock, Mark G. (Geri) Craddock, Matthew R. (Stacie) Craddock, and David M. (Sandy) Craddock; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Viewing, 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2015, TG McCarthy Funeral Home, 329 Goodnight Avenue, with a Rosary to follow at 7 p.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church, 217 E. Mesa. Funeral Mass, 10 a.m., Thursday, August 27, 2015, at St. Mary Catholic Church with interment to follow at Roselawn Cemetery. Online condolences at www.tgmccarthy.com. Arrangements by TG McCarthy Funeral Home.