Born in London, United Kingdom, Shirley’s early years were marked by growing up during the Second World War. She experienced the Battle of Britain, The Blitz and all aspects of the War as a young girl from her family home in London.
Following the War she trained at Pittman College taking secretarial classes, taking her first job at South Africa House, a diplomatic embassy in London.
Shirley met her husband, Reginald Utting, at dance classes. They married 2 years later adding two daughters to their family fold, Alison and Deborah. When the girls were old enough she returned to work as executive secretary to the Sales Director of the Concord Program at British Aircraft Company where her husband worked as an engineer on the same Concord project.
In 1968 the family emigrated to the United States of America where her husband took a position with the Boeing Company, settling in Bellevue, Washington. Shirley then accepted a role with the Rowley Agency as Office Manager, overseeing all aspects of the real estate development company.
During this time, as her children grew and left home, Shirley and Reg resumed their dancing. Continuing on with ballroom dance Shirley presided over two dance clubs as she and Reg became elite dancers. Dance was a joy in their shared life where often a floor was cleared as the couple wowed fellow dancers and party goers with their skilled performance
Shirley also enjoyed travel. After completing 36 different cruises with Reg they had seen much of the world. Many of the cruises involved dancing where the couple was frequently called on to assist with instructing other passengers. Additional many land based tours took them throughout inland Europe.
Shirley was the best wife, mother and grandmother anyone could wish. She is survived by her husband, Reg, of 67 years, her daughter Alison Utting (husband, Tom Herman) of Centralia, Washington, Deborah Tief (husband, Sean R. Tief) of Buckeye, Arizona and three grandsons, Jack R. Tief (Eagleville, Pennsylvania), James M. Tief (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Connor B. Tief (Portland, Oregon).
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