Shirley Carolyn Quinn

Shirley was born on April 27, 1925, in Bessemer, Michigan. The daughter of Leonard and Maud Solberg, Shirley loved sharing stories of her childhood with her sister, Lois, in a small town in the Upper Peninsula. She and her family moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin, in her late teen years. It was in high school there that she met her dear lifelong friend, Florence, and, not long after, her loving husband, Joe.

Shirley and Joe built a happy life in Kenosha, raising two wonderful children, Dan and Jane, while Shirley managed a medical office in town. Evenings were often spent with friends and family and, perhaps, a gathering with the Knights of Columbus.

In 1985, Shirley and Joe said goodbye to the snow and moved to Sarasota, which Shirley called home for the next four decades. When her beloved husband passed much too soon, not long after the move, Shirley was determined not to wallow. She adopted a policy of never saying no to an opportunity. She joined friends on outings all over and thrived as a widow, often passing along her “don’t say no!” advice to friends.

Shirley was an avid reader, a consummate crossword solver, and a loyal Tampa Bay Rays fan who rarely missed watching a game, usually with a neighbor or two she welcomed in with a warm wave through her open door. She treasured her family and friends, and her neighbors returned that care in kind, becoming an extended family.

Sharp, independent, and clear-eyed to the end, she was still living on her own well past her hundredth birthday. An inspiration to all who knew her.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Joseph, and her sister, Lois Sanders.

She is survived by her daughter, Jane Quinn (Wayne Christensen); her son, Dan Quinn (Patricia); her grandson, Brian Quinn; and many extended family members.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, November 12 at 11AM at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Pines of Sarasota Foundation.