Shirley Jean Stone

Shirley Jean Stone, 94, formerly of Albion, died peacefully on January 13, at New Life Assisted Living in Haslett, Michigan. Shirley was born in 1921 in Albion, the daughter of William and Lela (Bonnell) Olsson and, until her last weeks, had spent her entire life in the Albion area.

Shirley graduated from Albion High School in 1938 and attended Western Michigan University. In 1942 she married Kenneth Stone, who preceded her in death in 2003.

Until her retirement, Shirley was employed at various times by Michigan Bell Telephone Company, Service Caster, Eaton Manufacturing, Triangle Plumbing, and the Albion College Language Lab.

In 1935, Shirley was confirmed into membership in the First Methodist Church of Albion and, at her death, was the church’s longest-serving member. She was a member of the United Methodist Women, the Entre Nous Club, the Albion Historical Society, and Friends of the Springport Library. For many years she was active in the Camp Fire Girls, first as a youth member and then as an adult leader. For 70 years, along with several local women, she was a member of an informal, bi-weekly sewing circle.

Shirley was an avid reader. She also enjoyed crafts, sewing, knitting, baking, square and round dancing, camping, canoeing, vacationing at the family cottage near Honor, MI, and our Michigan winters.

Shirley is survived by her children Diane Stone, Lansing, Tom (Donna) Stone, Indian River, Bill Stone, Bloomfield Township; grandchildren, Joe (Carly) Stone, Danielle (Matt) Bellgowan, Jeff (Jodi) Stone, Babak Ghaemian, Beth (John) Cilek, and Nicole (Ben) Bates; 12 great-grandchildren; a nephew, Mark Skinner; and a daughter-in-law, Kathy Stone.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brothers Billy and David Olsson, and her sisters, Janice Skinner and Avron Olsson.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 1:00PM at Wesley Chapel of the First United Methodist Church, 600 E. Michigan Ave., Albion, MI 49224 with Pastor Jeremy Williams presiding, with Interment to follow at Albion Memory Gardens, Albion. Friends are welcome to join Shirley’s family at a visitation on Monday, January 18, 2016 from 4:00-7:00PM at J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home, 811 Finley Drive, Albion, MI 49224.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 600 E. Michigan Ave., Albion, or to Hospice of Lansing, 3186 Pine Tree Road, Lansing, MI 48911.