Shirley Ann Osborne

Shirley was born on July 10, 1928 in Kingston Borough, Pennsylvania to Frank Adams (a businessman in the coal industry) and his wife, Georgiana Graves Adams. Our Uncle Jim has said in the past that she was always a precocious kid, getting into mischief and sometimes making her parents want to pull their hair out. Early on she showed evidence of the lively spirit that was her signature throughout her life.
Growing up she primarily lived in parts of Pennsylvania, and Clinton and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where her father helped construct the Norris Dam.
She was only a teenager when she was lucky enough to fall head over heels in love with the man who would eventually be her husband – Louie Gene Osborne.
Shirley graduated from Clinton High School June 5, 1946 in Clinton, Tennessee. Never one to waste time, Shirley married Louie on July 28, 1946, in Rossville, Georgia, shortly after she turned 18. When I look at pictures from that day, she looks radiant and happy.
She was first and foremost a wife and mother. Her professional life started late in life after her children were well on to becoming adults. She worked as an auditor for the Marine Corps for 23 years before retiring.
Shirley’s first child, Sharron, was born in 1947, followed by little brothers Louie Gene in 1950 and Larry Dean in 1954.
Since her husband, Louie, was in the US Marine Corps and frequently gone for long periods of time, she was always the “glue” that held the family together when her children were growing up. Being both a mother and father to them. She grew up in the Depression years and learned to take on responsibilities around the house and take care of others. Later on those lessons would serve her well as she took care of her mother and husband before they past away.
There was nothing that gave her more pleasure than having the family together, and cooking for everyone. She was a great cook! She loved to go all out when cooking from trying new recipes to serving 5 and 6 course meals. She especially loved Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners with friends and family. She would spend days preparing, baking and getting ready for company. After retirement, She was always up for eating out - her favorite place The Outback.
She loved clothes. Whatever the occasion, she was dressed for it. She always had the latest and most“in”fashions. Even her hair was done up in a wonderful way. One of her favorite things to do was to go to the salon and get her hair done. Nothing came between her and her weekly trip to the hairdresser.
Growing up in the South, she was an avid country western music fan. She loved to spend her family vacations attending the Grand Ole Opry, touring Dollywood or an outing with her Hillbilly Club friends. My Mom said that she even found pictures she had taken of Country Award Shows taken right from the TV. Now that’s a western fan!
Shirley loved to clean house. That, in itself, sets her apart from almost all other women in the world. She loved to vacuum. She did it so much that at one point the neighbors told her they thought they were living near an airport. They lived in their home for over fifty years. Since they were both pack racks, you would have to have had a love of dusting to dust all the knick knacks she had collected.
Shirley had numerous hobbies over the years. She had a green thumb. Gardening was a further extension of her green thumb. She had always had lots of house plants and many people commented that her home resembled a jungle inside. Her CB handle when traveling in their motor home was “Mother Nature”. She was avidly involved in bowling and softball leagues in her travels while being a marine wife.
Shirley loved to travel with Louie, to meet people from all over the world, to learn their customs, explore their cities and try new foods. From camping trips across America with the kids to foreign countries with the Marine Corps, she was always ready for an adventure.
As much as she loved her family, five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, her greatest love was for our husband. They were married for seventy years! She never truly got over his lost in 2015.
We all have our own personal and special memories, of the mark she left in our hearts, and in our lives. It is very hard to focus on the happiest times she brought us, rather than the fact that she is no longer here with us today.
I am certain of two things though. She would have wanted us all to be here today with only happy thoughts of our times spent together and secondly....she is still here with us, very strongly in spirit.
Shirley was such a strong person through and through, from character, personality and presence. She had a stubborn streak that was a true mark of her personality. We are here because somewhere somehow, we have all been touched by her. I am sure that you all have your very own, special and private moments that you will cherish and keep close to your hearts.
We were all very lucky to have had her in our lives and as much as she will be missed, she will remain with us all, every day, as long as we can remember.
The cancer took her life just two short months from the time of diagnosis. She was 88 years old. Shirley’s body has been cremated and her son, Louie Jr. will take her ashes to California where she will be reunited with her husband, Louie who was laid to rest in July 2015 at the Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Shirley, Mom, Granny - We will miss you, past, present and future.
“To A Life Well Lived”


In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society. ( www.cancer.org )

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Frank and Dean and husband Louie; Survivors: daughter, Sharron Herbst; sons, Louie Osborne and wife, Susan, Larry Osborne and wife, Nancy; grandchildren: Misti Griffin, Michael Herbst, Stephanie Fischer, Annie Zapata; great-grandchildren: Kylie Griffin, Regan Griffin, Braedyn Herbst, Braxsyn Herbst, Brenlyn Herbst, Briella Herbst, Phoebe Fischer, Lucy Fischer, Ainsley Zapata, Aidan Zapata; and brother, Jim Adams.

****The family of Shirley A. Osborne would like to thank you for sharing this “Celebration of Life” service with them. Thank you to the Legend staff for their compassion and caring heart. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.****