Shirley Ann Martin

Shirley Vaughn was born on March 8, 1943, in Long Beach, California. She was the first of three children born to Herbert and Parie Vaughn. Shirley grew up in Southern California under sunny skies, having fun with her parents and her siblings, Kathy and Norman. She enjoyed annual family vacations in the Sierra Nevada, fishing with her dad, and hiking with her family. A bright and curious student, Shirley took piano lessons and graduated from Jordan High School in 1961. She continued her education at Long Beach City College, where she first met her future husband, John Martin. In January 1964, Shirley transferred to the University of California, Berkeley. Then, when John transferred to Berkeley in July 1964, he literally ran into her on campus, and a lifelong love story began that lasted 62 years.

Shirley and John got married on October 21, 1966, in Calgary, Alberta, and spent the next week in the Canadian Rockies before traveling home to Hartford, Connecticut, where John was working. In June of 1967, the couple returned to Southern California to pursue additional educational and professional opportunities. During the period of June 1967 to December 1974, the family lived in Southern California and welcomed their first son, Blaine, in 1969, and their second son, Derek, in 1971.

In 1974, the couple was offered an opportunity to move to Portland, Oregon. After visiting Portland twice to evaluate the opportunity, the couple decided to make the move to Portland in January 1975 and purchased a house in Cedar Hills. While the couple loved the Cedar Hills community, they were taken by the beauty of the local countryside. In December 1976, the couple found and purchased a 3-acre property with a beautiful view of the Tualatin Valley, where they built their dream home and lived for the last 48 years.

Shirley was an outstanding mother and wife and took care of all things in her home. She was active and supportive with her sons in school and after-school programs. Shirley was a tennis player who traveled to out-of-state tournaments. She proudly passed her love for the game to Derek and supported both of her sons in youth baseball and soccer programs. She also loved stream fishing and hiking with the family in Central Oregon. When their sons were old enough, the family started skiing, and Shirley started joining the “Ski Bus” with friends to spend long days skiing on Mt. Hood. Shirley was engaging, friendly, and kind to kids, dogs, and all types of birds. When she went for walks, she whistled to birds, and they whistled back!! And that is how she got the name “Shirley Bird”!

In the late 80’s, when her sons were finishing high school, Shirley enrolled at Portland State University, where she earned a degree in Speech Pathology in 1989. While health challenges prevented her from completing graduate studies, she never lost her love of learning. Later in life, Shirley, John, and the family travelled to Canada, Australia (2), Hawaii (many times), China, Holland, Germany, and New Zealand.

Shirley was a wonderful wife and friend to John, who asked her to share her life with him. For moving to Connecticut (1966), for moving back to Southern California (1967 to 1975), for moving to Oregon (1975 to 2026), for buying 3+ acres off of Skyline, for building a house (1978) and living there with him for 48 years, for having 2 wonderful children and taking care of the fort when he travelled in his work, she will be loved by him forever!

She will be remembered by all for her warmth, her energy, her love of family and friends, and the way she made people—and birds—feel welcome and loved. She will be deeply missed and loved forever.

Shirley died from Vascular Dementia on January 7, 2026, at the age of eighty-two. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert Vaughn and Parie (Griffin) Vaughn; her siblings, Kathy (Vaughn) Williamson and Norman Vaughn.

Shirley is survived by her husband, John; her son, Blaine; her son, Derek, and his wife, Andrea; and her grandchildren, Jake, Mia, and Chloe. And many Williamson, Vaughn, and Martin grandnieces and grandnephews.