Shirley Ann Gunner

There is a framed picture that hangs on the wall in her bathroom. It says, “There is a special place in Heaven for the mother of three boys.”

Selah - Shirley Gunner, age 86, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away in the early morning on Monday, February 20, 2023. Shirley was born in Murdo, South Dakota on May 28, 1936 to Ted and Amelia (Tootie) Johnson. She grew up in White River, SD with her younger sister Karen. Shirley and three other students remained together throughout all twelve years of school and graduated from the White River School in 1954. Shirley participated in many activities including playing the trombone in band, drama, glee club, and the annual staff. After high school, Shirley married her childhood sweetheart Frank Gunner on August 7, 1955. Within a few short years, they were blessed with three energetic sons: Don, Ron, and Scott. These boys would soon keep both parents busy from “son up to son down”.

Both Frank and Shirley attended Black Hills State College. Shirley had taken classes for accounting and business while Frank pursued his teaching degree. When Shirley became a mom she decided to become a full-time mom, homemaker, and wife of Coach Gunner. When the boys were in school the full day, Shirley went to work to help support the family. Shirley worked as a dental assistant for many years for her brother-in-law Larry in Martin, SD and for a dentist in Ogden, UT. Once they moved to Moses Lake, WA, she worked as a grading line manager in a potato processing plant and as a waitress in the local airport restaurant. They finally settled in Selah the summer of 1974 where Shirley later completed her professional career working as the coordinator for the Catholic Diocese Food and Nutrition Services.

Shirley enjoyed time with her family, BBQ’s, holidays, birthday parties, camping trips, and traveling to the beach. Her greatest joy came from watching her boys and her grandkids in their sporting events. These kids have been and are still participating in every type of event from dance to swimming, football to baseball & softball, golf to cross country running, soccer to track & field, basketball to volleyball, and she would be there! You could hear her voice stand out from the crowd. Everyone knew Shirley was there. Shirley was even voted Selah’s “Fan of the Year” in 1979 when her boys were in high school. She loved sports. She spent years on the bleachers watching and then always had a “game” on the TV at home. She not only watched sports, but she “knew” sports and could talk about all the players with anyone in the room. And, the officials had better do their job right!

In the 80’s and 90’s, Shirley and Frank were active bowlers and participated in a weekly bowling league as a team and as individuals. They spent many years traveling to tournaments with their good friends John and Gayle Calvert. In 1996, Shirley competed in a Champions Tournament in Reno, NV and placed second in the nation, missing the 10 pin for the win! She received a prize payout of $2,500.

Shirley was the “luckiest” lady in so many ways…Shirley and Frank would jump in the travelall and head to Reno, NV for a few days of playing the slot machines. When they returned home, Shirley’s winnings balanced out Frank’s fun and they always brought back a new supply of spirits to last until the next trip. They both loved playing the slot machines and enjoyed taking trips to Reno and Laughlin a couple times a year. In 1998, Legends Casino opened in Toppenish ending the big drives and making easy entertainment close to home. Shirley loved the machines and the machines seemed to love her. Legends became her favorite place to visit for a family night out or with a car load of friends. She really was one of the luckiest players and the casino was her hangout. She didn’t bet big money, but most of the time she came home a winner.

Some of Shirley’s lifetime hobbies and entertainment included camping and fishing, motorcycle riding, baking, collecting those ever popular beanie babies along with celebration Barbie dolls, and playing BINGO and scratch lottery tickets.

Shirley is survived by her three sons Don of Boise, ID, Ron (Dawn), and Scott (Tammy) all of Selah. Her grandchildren are Dani (Cam Clark), Brianna (Ross McReynolds), R.J., Aly, Gavin, Cooper, and Mattye along with two great grandsons Chip Clark and Braxtyn McReynolds. Other family members include her sister Karen (Bob) Nelson of Rapid City, SD, niece Marnie (Gene) Grosz of Denver, CO, and brother-in-law Larry Gunner of Sioux Falls, SD. She will be truly missed by so many including her dear friends Pat, Claudia, Liz, and Helen. She is preceded in death by her husband Franklin Carl, her infant brother Clifford (Sonny) Johnson, her parents Ted C. and Tootie Johnson, Swede and Emily Gunner, and daughter-in-law Roxanne Gunner.

“Here on Earth, everything’s different. There’s an emptiness… Oh, I hope you’re dancing in the sky, I hope you’re singing in the angel’s choir. And, I hope the angels know what they have. I’ll bet it’s so nice up in Heaven since you arrived.” ~ Dani and Lizzy - Dancing in the Sky

Services will be held at Keith & Keith Funeral Home at 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 11. Following the service a reception of family and friends will be held at the Yakima Elks Golf & Country Club in Selah.

The family would like to express their gratitude for the loving care given to Shirley by the staff at Highgate Senior Living. We would also like to thank the doctors, nurses, therapists, and aides at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital for their compassionate service to Shirley and our family during her last few weeks. A special thank you to friend and physician, Dr. Mark Maiocco.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the American Heart Association or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation. Donations will be managed by Keith & Keith Funeral

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.keithandkeith.com for the Gunner family.