Shirley Ann Thompson

Shirley Ann (Hay) Thompson passed away peacefully in her home, which she loved, March 2nd, 2024. Shirley was born July 31,1935 in Tripoli, Iowa to Erwin and Mabel Hay. Shirley was known as Mom or GG (for Great-Grandma) by family and friends alike.
Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Marilyn and brother Arlis, her daughters Shirlynn (Thompson) Bernaciak and Teri Lynn Thompson, her son Gerald "Butch" Thompson Jr, her grand-daughter Tia Higginbotham and her beloved American Eskimo, Bruno.
Shirley leaves behind her daughters Geri Pohly and Juli Hiner; her grand-daughters Kimberly (Ed) Strock and Cortney Pohly: her grand-son John (Brandi) Hiner; great-grandsons Michael (Michelle) Childs, James Kline, Tyler Pohly, and Izaiah Higginbotham; great-grand daughters Jurnee Higginbotham and Gia Higginbotham; great-great grandson Max Childs, many nieces & nephews, great and great-great nieces & nephews, and friends.
After high school, Shirley moved to Denver, Colorado where she worked for the Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company. There, Shirley met and married Gerald Donnie Thompson Sr. Her first child, Shirlynn, was born in Denver; her second child, Geri Lynn, was born in Des Moines, Iowa; her third and fourth children Gerald Donnie Jr and Teri Lynn were born in Indianapolis, Indiana. In the sixties the family settled in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and Shirley's fifth child, Juli Ann was born in Akron. Shirley moved to the Akron suburb of Ellet in 1980.
Shirley was hired by General Tire in 1966 as a printing press operator and worked her way up to the position of Office Supervisor. She retired with 33 ½ years of service. Shirley started volunteering for the Board of Elections soon after and was elected a member of the Summit County Republican Central Committee in 2010.
Shirley had many interests: Football, sewing, bowling, dancing, reading (everything and anything), and vinyl weaving. Many hours were invested in the making of a miniature Christmas town or seasonal basket using vinyl weaving and those that received this labor of love as gifts will always cherish them. Shirley loved sewing Halloween costumes for the grandchildren. (Remember the Ninja Turtle costume she sewed for John?) Shirley bowled in the General Tire Ladies Trio League and a couple's league at Colonial Lanes for years. Shirley was a huge Cleveland Browns FAN-natic and seldom missed a game. She felt every loss, which was of course the fault of the referees, not her Browns.
Travel was a favorite past-time of Shirley's, whether it was taking a cruise to the Bahamas, flying out West or to another country or driving around to see all the covered bridges in Ohio.
Shirley also loved casinos and found it difficult to drive by one without a stop. Shirley made trips to Las Vegas for years and frequented Ohio casinos (really, casinos in any state she drove through). In 2022 Shirley went on a casino trip to the state of New York where she visited 12 casinos in 5 days.
Of all Shirley's interests, her family was the most important. She enjoyed having family and friends gather at her house for birthdays, holidays, and barbecues. Shirley also enjoyed one on one time and some good gossip. Shirley had a sly sense of humor and was very quick-witted.
Shirley was very patient and giving. Whoever's birthday was coming up was asked what birthday dessert they wanted, and she would make it from scratch. When Cortney was a toddler, Shirley would hold Cortney for hours so she could play with large plastic utensils she had hanging in the kitchen or sit for hours with a sleeping Tyler in her lap because he would wake if she moved. Shirley booked a one-day flight to Baltimore when John was a child, just so that John could experience flying.
A special thank-you to all who cared for Mom/GG these last 5 months, with a special shout-out to her great-grandson Tyler, Chelsea Green, Bobbi Wolfe and Dr. Kevin Baldie who was available 24/7.
Per Shirley's wishes, cremation has occurred. There will be a Celebration of Life in July for Shirley's birthday. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society in Shirley's name. Several family members have fought cancer, and more research is needed to find a cure.