Shirley A. Peterson
Shirley A. Peterson
Service will be held Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 11 AM at the Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, 5400 Fairview Avenue, Boise. The Rev. Kent Conrad will officiate with interment to follow in Dry Creek Cemetery.
Shirley was born in Twin Falls, Idaho on January 27, 1935, to Justin and Claribel Kleinkopf. Shirley, along with her brother Mike, were raised on a farm in Murtaugh, Idaho. After graduating from high school she attended the nursing program at St. Luke’s Hospital and Boise Junior College in Boise. While in college Shirley met the love of her life, Bryce L. Peterson. They were married November 21, 1954 in Twin Falls, Idaho. They enjoyed 50 years of marriage together.
Bryce and Shirley founded Homco, Inc. in 1963 in Boise. In the 43 years of business they built over 1,500 single family homes and 500 apartment units. Many incredible Boise Valley neighborhoods were also developed so that families would have a beautiful place to live. She had an incredible gift for design and creative ideas.
Work was not the only thing that she and Bryce enjoyed. Shirley was always ready for an adventure. She enjoyed flying with Bryce in his Cessna twin engine airplane, owning and racing thoroughbred horses, boating in McCall with family and friends, and even riding snowmobiles with a broken arm! She loved the Boise Philharmonic, Boise Little Theater, musicals, and any other cultural experience she thought she could twist Bryce’s arm into going to. Being a volunteer in the St. Al’s Ladies Auxiliary, attending local bible studies, and knitting were things that Shirley really enjoyed doing. She was a member of the Nazarene Church.
Over the last 35 years Shirley had many health challenges and overcame many physical obstacles. She felt she could do anything and did everything in her power to make it so. Lots of physicians and therapists just shake their heads and say, “Never underestimate Shirley. If she says she can do it, she will.” She was a woman of strength, grace and beauty. Her appearance was very important to her, and she always had her hair, nails and clothes in perfect order.
Shirley loved her family deeply. She is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Stephanie and Steve Yates, Debbie and Paul Stamas, and Dianne and Phil Jossis and her dog “Ellie”. Affectionately known as YiaYia (Grandma in Greek) by her five grandchildren, Nickolas Yates and wife Taryn, Jennifer Slagle, Alex Stamas, Christopher Keyes and Anna Lisa Jossis. Great-Yia Yia to Carter and Olivia Slagle, and Lincoln Yates. All of them loved to go see her and ride with her in the wheelchair or get up on the bed with her and snuggle.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bryce, parents and grandparents, and precious great grandchild “Baby Austin” who she promised to hold the minute she got to heaven.
Memorials may be given to Mountain States Tumor Institute (MSTI), 100 E. Idaho Street, Boise, Idaho 83712.
1935 - 2016
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