Shirley Violet Probst

Shirley Violet Probst was born in Wenatchee on May 23, 1928, as Shirley Violet Cunningham and lived in the Wenatchee Valley her whole life. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, and grandmother to her family who loved her so dearly. She was a friend to many in her church, always with a ready smile and a willing and helping hand. She was a closet artist with a tireless flair for making something beautiful out of very little no matter the size of the project. She was a lover of comfort food and loved even more when she could make and serve it to others. She was a perfectionist about everything, always wanting things to be just right, especially when the item, be it food or otherwise, was meant for someone else. She was a reader of books, but especially books of faith, for her faith in God was strong. She loved the outdoors and many times forced our homebody father out of the house for tent or trailer camping trips to Lake Chelan or the Icicle River, or just a day hike to Lily Lake. She was perpetually late to everything, just on a different space-time continuum than the rest of us. She was a talented seamstress, making Easter clothes, prom dresses and Halloween costumes. She was a fan of old movies and television shows and would stay up till the wee hours watching them. She was the lioness defender of her children and grandchild, always coming to their defense when the world dealt them a blow. She was the one you'd always run to when there was something wonderful that you wanted to share, or something wrong for which you wanted comfort. In short, she was the perfect mother and confidante. For all this, Shirley would have denied she was so wonderful and noted all the little things she felt were wrong with her. She had trouble accepting a compliment. She didn't want too much notice or praise which just made her more endearing. That made it all the harder when a stroke took her normal brightness away from us two years ago, and left her in a diminished physical and mental state. Despite that, she found a new way to be cheerful and happy and those around her came to love that same endearing person within. Sunday, God found it time to take her away to his care. And it was right, for her body was so ravaged by illness, though it hurt those of us left behind to let her go. We already miss her bright cheery voice, her generous spirit and the love she always gave, more than she ever took. We'll miss you so mom. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, February 13, 2009, at 11 a.m. at St. Pauls Lutheran Church, 312 Buchanan, Wenatchee.

Shirley Violet Probst

May 23, 1928 - February 8, 2009