Shirley Lorraine Milliorn was born Dec. 25, 1927, in Chicago, Ill. She went home to her Heavenly Father on March 15, 2015, while residing at Sylvan House in Hayden, Idaho, under Hospice care.

Shirley spent her childhood with her parents Elmer and Grace "Sally," and younger brother Elmer Jr. Her family relocated to Los Angeles, Calif., where she met and married the love of her life, Joseph L. Milliorn, in 1947.

Mom worked with a photographer and for a local phone company before she was married. Years later she returned to school to earn her real estate license. Her love of children led her to become a foster parent and run a small daycare center. After moving to Idaho in 1979 she started doing electronic assembly work at home while becoming a dedicated Sunday school teacher to preschool children. She loved gardening, researching and learning about nutrition, and studying various Bible scholars.

She was a devoted mother to her seven children - twins Dianne and Susanne, Joseph Jr. "Jay," Candy, Linda, Thomas and Bradley. She was also known as Grammy to her 14 grandchildren and Great-Grammy to 14 great-grandchildren.

Mom was preceded in death by her daughters Candy Papach and Dianne Stephens Gindraux; and by her grandson, Andrew Stephens. She is survived by her husband, Joe, of 67 years; children and spouses: Susanne Pilkington, Jay (Sherry) Milliorn, Linda (Steve) Smith, Tom Milliorn (Liane Sperlich), and Brad Milliorn; and by her brother, Elmer (Hollis) Judkins.

Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, is entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Shirley's online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me for now I'm free,

I'm following the path God laid for me.

I took his hand when I heard him call,

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone will stay that way,

I found that peace at close of day.

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy

A friendship shared, a laugh a kiss,

Ah yes, these things I, too, will miss.

But not burdened with times of sorrow,

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life has been full, I've savoured much.

Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all to brief

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief,

Lift up you hearts and share with me,

God wanted me now,

He set me free.

Janice M. Fair-Salters, copyright, by kind permission of the author, published in "Voices From Beyond."