Shirley May Daue Leonard

Shirley May Daue was born in Salem, OR on 1/31/1927, Shirley’s mother’s name was Hazel Vivian Hurley and her father was Desmond Victor Daue, and for a short period of time, they lived at the historic Daue House located at 1095 Saginaw St. S in Salem with Desmond’s mother, before moving in with Shirley’s grandparents at age 2-1/2 where she lived until age 22, helping out at the family dairy (Hurley’s) and riding horses in her free time. Shirley’s parents divorced when she was very young; but, she remembers her father taking her to frequent soft ball games and trips to the park as she grew up.

Shirley met Ronald Creston Leonard around Thanksgiving in 1948. On their first date they attended a wrestling match together. According to Shirley, on their third date she slapped Ron for attempting to kiss her (Mom’s Story). At this first contact, as I understood it, Dad decided he was in love (his story). Ron Creston Leonard and Shirley May Daue were engaged on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1949. And on April 3rd, 1949 they got married at Knights Memorial Church in Salem. They moved to Albany and together they had three children, Ronald Creston Leonard JR, October 14th in 1950; Debra Anne Leonard, January 1, 1955; and Mark Allen Leonard, September 6th, 1957, born one day before his father’s birthday.

Shirley worked for Pacific NW Bell until Debra was born in 1950, she also worked for Oremet in the labs in the 1960’s, she was nurse’s aide, and she eventually retired from Stokely’s Van Camp sometime in the 1980’s. Shirley has many fond memories of her children growing up, picnics, day trips and overnight trips to the beach, many trips to Reno (her husband taught her how to play Black Jack). Later in life, Ron and Shirley traveled frequently to Hawaii, went on a cruise to Catalina Island, and wintered in many warm climates i.e. Laguna Beach in a luxury beach house; Ala Wai Tower overlooking Ala Wai Harbor in Honolulu, HA, Coronado Shores on Coronado Island, CA. Shirley is survived by her three children, numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well her two sisters residing Fresno and Dinuba, California (different dad) and a sister who resides in El Paso, Texas (different Mom). Shirley last saw her two sisters in California in December 2014, and other sister living in El Paso in April 2015. Along the way, she saw much of the country side on those two excursions i.e. San Francisco, the Redwoods, the Oregon Coast, Smith River, Grand Canyon among other places. Shirley also enjoyed many trips locally in recent times, county fairs, parks, garage sales with Debra and Mark, trips to Ron Jr home on the Wilson River, in Tillamook, Oregon, day trips and overnight trips with her family to various locations. She loved to sing, she loved to laugh, Dad said to me (Mark) that if he should pass on first, Mom would not be far behind him. Her husband of 53 years passed away in June 2002. To my father in heaven, Dad, I think it was her dog that kept her going all this time, with a little help from her family. Here comes Mom!