Shirley Jahr

Shirley Victoria (Miller) Jahr, age 88, of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, passed away peacefully at the Ball Hospice House in Sault Ste. Marie on December 31, 2023. Shirley was born on August 9, 1935, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Rudolph and Flora (DeLima) Miller. Shirley grew up in Hawaii until the age of seventeen when she traveled to Bay City, Michigan, to visit her sister, Betty. While waitressing at a local restaurant, she met and fell in love with her future husband, Donald "Don" Jahr. Don and Shirley married on January 24, 1957, at St. Mary's Church in Bay City, and settled in Quanicassee, Michigan. Shirley had a fulfilling life raising her three children and operating a daycare from her home for eighteen years. Throughout her years, Don and Shirley enjoyed spending time at their cabin in Barbeau, Michigan, and on their boat fishing the Munuscong Bay often with friends. After Don's retirement, they moved to the Upper Peninsula to be near their family. They sold their cabin and built their new home on Sugar Island, Michigan, where they resided for the next thirty years. Shirley was a housewife all her life but shared responsibility and ownership with her daughter, Karen, at their maternity, baby, gift shop, "Mommy and Me," for a few years until it was sold. Shirley found so much joy tending to her flower gardens, riding golf cart around, and visiting her many friends and neighbors. Having a great sense of adventure, humor, and curiosity, she often found herself on impromptu "road trips" with her daughters, never knowing where they were going to take her and often keeping her husband, Don, wondering what town they would end up in and what time they would be home. Shirley had so much compassion and love to share for her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She always put them first before ever thinking of herself. She will be greatly missed by her family. Shirley leaves behind a son, Michael Jahr of Sault Ste. Marie; daughters, Karen (Bill) Montgomery of Bradenton, Florida, and Kathy (Tim) Gregg of Sault Ste. Marie; grandchildren, Emily (Partner, Christopher Vincent) Gregg of Charleston, South Carolina and Nathan (Stephanie) Gregg of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada; great-grandchildren, Gavin Gregg and Greyson Gregg of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario; sisters, Betty Fick of Hudsonville, Michigan, and Margaret Gallegos of Honolulu; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; parents, Rudolph, and Flora; brother, Nicholas Miller; sister, Theresa (Donald) McCorriston; and brother-in-law, Harvey Fick. A special thank you to all the wonderful people at the hospice house for the care and compassion they provided. Shirley's family would also like to extend a thank you to Dr. Thilak Chander for his care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made out to the Ball Hospice House of the EUP, 308 W. 12th Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. Anyone wishing to attend, there will be a Graveside Burial on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 1:00 PM, at the Oaklawn Chapel Gardens in Bruce Township, Michigan. https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/BMCDDPMYGGPTB357

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Shirley Jahr

September 9, 1935 - December 31, 2023