Shirley was born on February 8, 1945, to John Wolfe Grange and Shirley Putnam Grange in Plymouth Meeting, PA. Shirley and her half-sister Eleanor Rulon-Miller York were brought up in Gladwyne, PA, and Shirley attended Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA. She graduated from Chatham Hall in Chatham, VA, in 1962 and received her degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1966.
After college, she spent two years working at Squaw Valley Lodge in the Sierra Mountains of California and several years in Venice, CA, and New Brunswick, Canada, while traveling widely, hiking, camping, and exploring.
In 1976, Shirley settled in Portland, Maine. She both volunteered and worked for Ingraham Volunteers, where she provided assistance to families in crisis and the hearing impaired. She married George S. Watson in 1980 and they moved to Cape Elizabeth, where they welcomed two daughters, Alexandra Grange Watson and Charlemagne Lea Watson.
Shirley always had a curious mind, adventurous spirit, and a fun and dry sense of humor. In addition to the joy and challenge of raising her daughters and keeping the home fires burning, she studied violin for 10 years, researched her family genealogy, enjoyed creating watercolors, took up tap dancing, sang in a chorus, and cared for a variety of basset hounds. In her spare time, Shirley was an avid rule-breaker, always regarding a sign reading “Private” as an invitation and getting caught red-handed digging up her neighbor’s lupines. Shirley also was an active member of St. Alban’s Church in Cape Elizabeth for many years, serving in various positions, including on the Vestry.
Shirley wanted to specifically thank the "tap dancing gals" for their support and encouragement.
She is survived by her husband George Watson Sr. of Cape Elizabeth, her daughter Alexandra Watson Bailey and son-in-law Breck Bailey of Boston, and her daughter Charlemagne Watson of Brooklyn. She is also survived by her stepson George Watson Jr., his partner Emily Drinkwine, and his son Bennett Watson of Yucaipa, CA; and her stepdaughter Ellen Watson of Yarmouth, along with her daughters Hope and Chloe Cady. Also surviving is her sister Eleanor “Boat” York of Westbrook and several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service to honor Shirley on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at 11 a.m. at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 885 Shore Road in Cape Elizabeth.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Shirley’s memory to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation or The Opportunity Alliance.
Please visit www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to sign Shirley's guestbook and share stories.
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