Shirley met the love of her life, William Cochran, at the J.I. Case Company where they both worked. It was love at first sight. After a whirlwind courtship, William proposed with a diamond ring in the middle of a heart-shaped box of candy on Valentine’s Day. They were married on May 7, 1949. Their lifetime of love together lasted 63 years, until Jesus took William home to heaven in 2012.

Shirley and William were blessed with five daughters. Shirley was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her family loved her immensely and were thankful to God to have her for so many years.

Shirley was a lifelong member of the First Evangelical Free Church of Rockford, Illi. where she served as a pre-school Sunday School teacher for over 50 years. She adored the little ones. Shirley also treasured her time as a deaconess and ministering to the elderly. She loved decorating and flower arranging at church, home, weddings, and special events.

Shirley’s daughters often teased about being her favorite. The fact that she succeeded in making each one feel special was one of many reasons she was so loved and will be missed.

Shirley’s whole life was anchored on her trust of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In good times and difficult ones, she knew her help came from the Lord. He was faithful and never left her side. One of her favorite verses was Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

She will be greatly missed by her family, but our comfort is that she is now in the presence of our precious Savior.

Shirley is survived by her 5 daughters, Mary Lou (Randy) Carlson of Norfolk, Va., Judy (Doug) Peterson of East Chain, Minn., Sharon (Bill) Boyden of East Chain, Minn., Jane (Neil) Jensen of Fairmont, Minn., Ellen (Brent) Whitlock of Naperville, Illi.; her 10 grandchildren: Michelle, Beth Ann, Sarah, Jenny, Joshua, Ashley, Brittany, Josiah, Amanda, Wil; her 23 grandchildren; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Carolyn and Homer Erickson; and sister-in-law June Erickson.

She was preceded in death by husband William; her parents; and her brother Donald Erickson, sister Nancy Kibben, and brother-in-law David Cochran.

A private interment at the Kishwaukee Cemetery will be held at a later date.

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]