Shirley Jo Westerfield Wuthier

Shirley Jo Westerfield Wuthier was born on April 21, 1934 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and passed away on March 30, 2025. She was the daughter of Walter E. Westerfield, a civil engineer employed by the WPA, and Fredline Barnwell Westerfield, nurse and homemaker.

She grew up in a series of western cities following her father's construction projects until the family, including her brother Perry, settled in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She earned her tuition to the University of Wyoming by working at a local Montgomery Wards. Shirley Jo was an eager student of literature, mathematics, and the sciences at Cheyenne High School in Cheyenne Wyoming, class of 1951. While at university, in Laramie, Wyoming, she continued science and American literature classes, along with Spanish Language and archery.

She met her future husband, Roy E. Wuthier in Laramie while they were both students. They married in 1956. While Roy completed his PHD at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Shirley worked as a Medical Technologist.

After Roy completed his PHD in 1960, Shirley's first child, a son, Timothy Matthew Wuthier, was born in 1961, followed by a daughter, Melissa Grace Wuthier, in 1967. The family moved again, to Burlington, Vermont, in 1969. There, Shirley volunteered in the school library and took ballet classes.

In 1975, continuing her husband's research career in Biochemistry, the Wuthiers moved to Columbia, South Carolina. Shirley took up a new hobby, creating intricate cross-stitch weavings, helped Roy in their garden, and was an avid reader.

In 1984, Shirley was diagnosed with stage 2 breast-cancer, undergoing a series of debilitating, but ultimately successful chemotherapy treatments which gave her a 40-year survival.

During those later years, Shirley continued her unwavering devotion to her family, and numerous household pets. In 2022, in declining health and decreasing mobility, Shirley and Roy relocated to Rice Estates senior residence, nursing home and hospice.

Predeceased by her husband, Roy Edward Wuthier, Shirley is survived by her son, Timothy Matthew Wuthier, and daughter, Melissa Grace Wuthier Kopsky; son-in-law, John Peter Kopsky; her grandchildren, Gabriel Luke Kopsky, and Nathaniel Peter Kopsky; and her brother, Perry Evans Westerfield (born May 30, 1936).

The family extends special thanks to the staff of Rice Estates and hospice.

Funeral arrangements to be determined later.