Shirlee A McCown

Shirlee Arlene McCown, 91, of Anaheim Hills, passed away on December 8, 2025. She was born on March 28, 1934, above a garage in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, to Paul and Caroline Means. Shirlee spent the first nine years of her life in New Jersey with her siblings before her family traveled by train to California in 1943 in search of better opportunities. She settled in Los Angeles near the beach with her sister, Debbie Means (Miller), and brother, Robert “Bob” Means.

Shirlee graduated from Dorsey High School in 1952 and began working at Security First National Bank, where she met her husband, Stuart McCown. The two married on October 1, 1955, and together raised three children: Cindy Pike, Nancy Bowers, and Bob McCown. Family life was extremely important to Shirlee, and she was deeply present in her children’s lives. She volunteered with the Brownies while her daughters were involved and later began teaching preschool.

Guided by her love for education, Shirlee earned a certificate to teach child development through the Regional Occupational Program (ROP) in the 1970s. She went on to become a paraeducator at Bixby Elementary School in Hacienda Heights, where she worked for 25 years before retiring in 1999. Her marriage to Stuart ended in 1991, and she was very proud of building an independent life on her own.

Shirlee had an innate gift for bringing people together. She loved going out to lunch with her fellow teachers and organized monthly meetups at various restaurants. She enjoyed hosting pool parties for the neighborhood at her family home in Hacienda Heights and loved playing cards and games — especially Phase 10, along with Yahtzee, Hearts, and Bridge.

Her best friend was her next-door neighbor, Joanne Powell. The two met in Temple City in 1959 and remained close for the rest of their lives, sharing many trips together. Shirlee especially loved traveling to Hawaii, Las Vegas, and the East Coast to visit family in Pennsylvania and see the fall colors. She had a remarkable instinct for knowing when someone needed help and was a constant source of support to her neighbors. She was also a devoted dog lover and cherished her dogs: Salty, Pepper, Gretchen, and most especially Duchess.

Shirlee had a passion for sewing, knitting, gardening, and shopping. She learned to sew at a young age and became an excellent seamstress, sewing primarily for her family. She shared many special hours at the sewing machine with her oldest daughter, Cindy. In later years, she enjoyed knitting and crafting and had a talent for fixing and improving things. She was also proud of her sports cars, which included a bright blue Mustang, a red Datsun 260Z, a red Mitsubishi 2000, and her most prized possession, a gray Corvette.

Shirlee is survived by her children, Cindy Pike and Bob McCown; her grandchildren, Kenny Pike, Amanda Pike, Teri Bowers (Vandalsem), and Kristi Bowers (Kaib); her great-grandchildren, Zoey Kaib and Lincoln Kaib; and her sister, Debbie Miller.

She will be laid to rest at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Road, Ventura, California. Shirlee leaves behind a legacy of beauty, kindness, and connection. She will be greatly missed.