Friends and family are saddened to announce that Shirley Ann Shute passed away on January 15, 2021.  She was 87.  She was predeceased by her parents, Henry and Maureen Shute, and her brother, Travis Mallory Atkins. She is fondly remembered by sister-in-law Katherine Atkins, nieces Sherry and Karen, great nephews Shane and Jeremy, great great nephew Reid, her good friend Jennifer Samko and family, as well as many Canadian friends and friends across the United States.

Shirley grew up in Memphis and took her education there.  With teaching degree in hand, and later a master's degree, she taught students in several western states before moving to Massachusetts in the early 70's.  She taught in the Faculty of Education at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and influenced physical education teachers from across the U.S. and Canada.  Many of the PhD students brought their friends from home to enjoy the fun and hospitality that was Shirley's way.

The steady stream of Canadians that regularly trekked down to Hadley, Mass. were treated to Shirley's southern hospitality and generosity.  Always game for a good time, Shirley and her home on Shattuck Road were party central just about any day of the week.  Her place was so popular that the Canadians even put number signs on the bedroom doors and if those rooms were full, there was always a spare blanket and pillow left on the couch for those who straggled in during the wee hours. Pickle ball in her driveway and the back yard swimming pool were big drawing cards for fun and recreation.  You soon learned to help yourself to a beer from the garage bar fridge but you better leave a six pack if you wanted to be welcomed back.

One of the joys of visiting Shirley in the summertime was that she knew the best road-side markets for the juiciest peaches and cream corn, the ripest tastiest tomatoes and bar none – the best pork ribs for barbecuing.  When it was too hot to even get relief from a dip in the pool, she would pack her visitors into her car, and we'd head for the New England coast and a lobster and steamer feed, complete with quahogs, along the way.  And, of course, a visit to Filene's basement to try on bargain-priced clothes and lunch at Faneuil Square (including insults from those cheeky waiters), were always highlights in Boston as part of a trip to visit Shirley.

When Shirley retired at 55, she packed what was left of her belongings that she didn't divest herself of in a tag sale and moved to Deerfield Beach, Florida to a condo on a golf course. Being as frugal as she was, she could get free golf if she went to work at the golf course.  She was the only female starter in southern Florida.  While her residence changed, her love of Canadians didn't, so many of us continued to visit and receive her outpouring of love along with free golf instruction from the best coach.

Shirley loved to travel.  She had visited every state in the Union but Alaska, and finally got to see it on a cruise with her good friend Mary Lou.

Shirley was always devoted to her mom, so when her mother's health was failing, Shirley moved to Big Fork Montana – a place she had researched as having excellent affordable geriatric care.  There she bought a little house on the prairies in partnership with her good friend, Cynthia, where she cared for her mom at home until her mom's passing.  With no strong ties to Montana, she moved back to her hometown, Memphis to be closer to her brother and then moved to Collierville.  This lasted a few years before she went to live in northern Arkansas in an area where she had spent her summers when in her 20's.  After about five years, she wanted to be closer to health care and she returned to Collierville and lived in two different locations there.  She was a vagabond and considered moving again this past fall.

Through all those moves, her Canadian friends made sure they kept those close connections where they knew Shirley would make them the best southern fried chicken, black eyed peas and fried okra – always a must-have on the menu of a visit with Shirley.

It's rare in this day and age to have such a sustained friendship across so many miles, and through so many moves and over so many years.  But it's a strong testament to our love for Shirl, and hers for her Canadian friends that we've managed to keep that strong connection.  You will always be in our hearts, dear Shirley.

It is Shirley's wish that there be no funeral.  Her charity of choice was St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.