Shirley Cayton Gregoire

It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the death of Shirley Cayton Gregoire of Tuscaloosa, AL, who lost her three-year battle with cancer on January 6, 2021. Born on February 2, 1936, she was the daughter of Albert andOzeta Cayton of New Bern, NC.

Ms. Gregoire, a strong advocate for the equal rights of all people, was a pioneer for women in the field of engineering, a devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Ms. Gregoire began her studies at community college in her late 30’s and ultimately graduated with honors from Wake Forest University with a degree in Chemistry.

She was among the very first female engineers hired by Union Carbide Corporation in 1973 and was part of the Asheboro, NC team that designed and manufactured one of the first commercially successful alkaline batteries under the Eveready trademark. In 1978, Ms. Gregoire became the first female engineer at Union Carbide’s factory in Chickasaw, AL. Earning the respect of the mostly male workforce with hard work and competent management, together they produced highly specialized industrial products called molecular sieves for more than a decade.

After retiring from engineering, Ms. Gregoire became a real estate broker and co-owner of Manders and Gregoire Real Estate in Fairhope, AL, and served on the board of the Magnolia Beach Condominium Association. Adventurous in her retirement, she lived in Evansville, IN; Gulf Shores, AL; Chicago, IL; Nevada City, CA; Frisco, TX; and Tuscaloosa, AL; and travelled Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Ms. Gregoire outlived her first husband, George Broome, with whom she had four children, Bart, Brandy, Silver, and Scarlett. Her second husband, Guy Gregoire, whom she lovingly cared for during his extensive battle with Parkinson’s disease, also passed before her.

Truly an inspiration to all who knew her, Ms. Gregoire is survived by her brother Jim Cayton, her children Scarlett (Kenneth) Gaddy, Silver Eberly, Brandy (Mike) Sislow, and Bart Broome (Ronald Regina); and by 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Due to the current pandemic, there was a private family memorial in Tuscaloosa on January 10, and Ms. Gregoire was interred at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation in Ms. Gregoire's memory to Hospice of West Alabama.

(https://hospiceofwestal.com/ways-to-give/contributions/)

To leave expressions of sympathy for the family please visit www.heritagechapeltuscaloosa.com, the service will also be livestreamed on Facebook (Heritage Chapel Funeral Home).