Shirley Kline Williams

Shirley is survived by her children, Steven and Anna Williams of Santa Rosa, CA, Thomas Williams of Chandler, AZ, Laura Williams of Santa Rosa, CA, Scott and Nancy Williams of Novato, CA; her seven grandchildren; John, Claire, Katherine, Grace, Kellen and Makayla Williams and Emma Miltenberger; and by extended family and close friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Vaudys (nee Kettlewell) and Marshall Kline, her brother, James Kline, her first husband, Theodore Turner, and her second husband, (Charles) Sumner Williams III, father of her children.

Shirley was born on October 7, 1928 in Elmhurst, IL. She grew up in the suburbs of Chicago as well as in Rochester, NY. She showed a talent for drawing as a young girl and also excelled at acting and academics. Shirley moved to NYC as a young woman where she studied at the Central Park School of Art and worked as a fashion illustrator for Vogue. She married Ted Turner in 1951. She and Ted were involved in a car accident during the first year of their marriage that Ted did not survive. She became reacquainted with Sumner while visiting his family’s summer home in Friendship, Maine at the invitation of Sumner’s sister, Anne, who was a close friend. Sumner and Shirley enjoyed life in New York during their courtship and early marriage attending parties and cultural events. They later moved to Connecticut and Sumner continued to commute to the city. They moved to San Francisco in 1956, where all four children were born, and spent the rest of their lives in various areas of California including Mill Valley, La Jolla, Huntington Beach, La Canada, and Corona Del Mar. They relocated to Santa Rosa in 1992 to be closer to family and bought a country property in Bennett Valley with a small vineyard. Children and grandchildren have many fond memories of times spent together at the Peracca Road house, picking fruit from the orchard, playing croquet on the lawn, swimming in the pool, playing cards, and feasting with family. Sumner passed in 2000 with Shirley caring for him in his final years as he struggled with Alzheimer’s disease. Shirley moved into town several years later as the country property became too much for her to manage.

Shirley went back to school as her children grew and received her B.A. in Art Education from Cal State L.A. She worked intermittently as an art teacher through much of her life. She excelled at watercolor painting and painted through her final years, hosting weekly painting parties at her home. Shirley was also an avid reader and a fierce bridge player. She worked throughout her life for social causes and was proud of her efforts to combat global poverty and hunger. She participated in lobbying with Results serving as a member of their board. Her efforts took her to Bangladesh, India and China. She was proud of her affiliation with Dr. Yunus and her efforts to set up microenterprise loan programs both locally and internationally.

Shirley was determined that all of her grandchildren attend college and was especially concerned with her female grandchildren having that opportunity as, in her youth, her parents had been unsupportive of higher education for her despite her academic talent. She was thrilled to live to see all of her granddaughters start college.

Shirley was an active and dedicated member of The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Santa Rosa, where she often volunteered for the homeless breakfast, participated in a women’s support group for over 20 years, served on the board and on the aesthetics committee, produced art work used in the sanctuary, attended dream groups and book groups, and participated in various social functions.

Shirley passed away after a difficult recovery from an unexpected surgery. She had several health issues that she struggled with in recent years but remained spirited, opinionated, and generous until the end of her life.

A service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 19th at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 547 Mendocino Avenue. A reception will follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Shirley’s life. Flowers or donations to non-profits benefitting children experiencing poverty or hunger are welcomed. The family thanks her friends at the UU and the doctors and nurses who kindly cared for her over these last years.