Shirlene Fitzgerald

1938 — 2024

OGDEN – Shirlene Joy (Perkins) Fitzgerald, 85, passed into the arms of her Savior on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, and is now holding hands in heaven with Bill, her husband of 68 years who died on Oct. 4, 2023. She was sustained to the end by the love and compassion of her children in her home, as was her greatest wish.

She was born July 7, 1938, in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, the daughter of Ralph and Katherine Perkins. She was just 16 when she married William A. Fitzgerald, a tall, lanky airman at nearby Charleston Air Force Station, on June 27, 1955. Thus began a life as a military wife that carried her from Michigan to Texas, Washington, Maine, Arkansas, Kansas and finally Utah. During Dad’s four remote military assignments, Mom was a single parent for up to 18 months at a time to a family that grew to three daughters and two sons, a duty she considered essential to her husband’s 20-year military career. After Dad’s transition to civilian life, Mom eventually became his business partner as they ran a 7-Eleven franchise in Post Falls, Idaho, until they retired and returned to the family home in Ogden.

Shirlene was a devoted servant of the Lord and found great pleasure in sharing her faith as a member of the Valley View Baptist Church in North Ogden. She was always willing to see the best sides of people and was able to take them as they are, passing no judgment.

Shirlene’s special talent was oil painting, a mostly self-learned skill that gave her years of enjoyment. Family members and friends who received her works over the years considered themselves fortunate indeed, as she was an award-winning member of the Utah Intermountain Society of Artists. Though she professed to have no musical talents herself, her husband and children were skilled musicians who she loved to appreciate. You could tell how much she enjoyed their music by the way her toes were tapping to the beat during the family’s jam sessions.

She will be missed tremendously by her children, who all took turns as caregivers during Mom’s last six months: Shirlene Rhonda (Charlie) Pomerleau of Zephyrhills, Fl.; V. Lynn (John) Thomas of Syracuse; Gary W. (Joy) Fitzgerald of Ogden, UT; David M. (Shelia) Fitzgerald of Ogden, UT; and Laura Ann (Jon) Meyer of Nampa, ID. She is the Nana of 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was comforted also in her later years by her beloved dog Kate and cat Lucas Von Pepperbottom, which will miss Shirlene as well.

She was predeceased by her Siblings, and a grandson, Jeremy Johnson.

The viewing and funeral services will be held at Valley View Baptist Church 2712 N Washington Blvd, North Ogden, UT 84414. The viewing will begin at 12:00p.m. and funeral service beginning at 1:00p.m. on March 25th, 2024, with interment services to follow at Evergreen Memorial Park 100 N Monroe Blvd. Ogden, UT. Service will be recorded and added to Shirlene’s obituary page later in the day. To watch go to www.myers-mortuary.com

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Shirlene’s name at www.guidingeyes.org

Services entrusted to Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Utah.