Shirley Findlay, 70, of Cape Elizabeth, passed away Oct. 5 after a dignified and courageous battle with cancer.
She was born the daughter of William H. and Irene C. “Elton” MacKenzie in Woburn, Mass.
Shirley graduated from Burlington High School, attended Bentley College, Boston University, where she belonged to the sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma, and graduated from the University of Southern Maine School of Business.
Shirley worked for Verizon as a network consultant for many years before retiring in 1996.
On Oct. 2, 1955, in Burlington, Mass., Shirley married her love, Robert (Bob) Findlay, at the Christ Church. They moved to Maine in 1967 after living in Reading Mass., Groveland, Mass., and Pittsburgh, Penn. They spent their summers together on Damariscotta Lake in Nobleboro and winters in Naples, Fla.
Shirley belonged to the First Congregational Church at Meeting House Hill where she was Chair of Building Committee, Chair of Search Committee for Senior Minister, Women’s Spirituality, Deacon, Member and Soloist of Senior Choir, as well as numerous other church, school, and community activities. She was also the President of Faculty Wives Club at Bentley College.
Shirley loved gardening, music, fitness, health issues, and was a very devoted wife, mother and grandmother. We will miss her dearly.
Shirley is survived by her loving husband, Bob; daughter, Elizabeth W. F. Bishop and husband Thomas of London, England; son, David W. and wife Rochelle of Manchester; grandchildren, Caroline and Martha Bishop, and Jonathan and Amanda Findlay; sisters, Ruth Danko of Chelmsford, Mass., and Joanne Pantano of Bedford, Mass.; and brother, Robert MacKenzie of Hurrieta, Cal.
Visiting hours 4:30-6:30 p.m., Sun., Oct. 8 at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Rd., South Portland.
Service 1 p.m., Mon., Oct. 9 at the First Congregational Church in South Portland.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Community Crisis Ministries of the First Congregational Church of South Portland, 301 Cottage Rd., South Portland, ME 04106 or the American Cancer Society-Brunswick Chapter.
