Obituary for Shirley Marie Whitbeck Shirley Marie (Pickar) Whitbeck earned her eternal wings on the morning of June 16, 2018. Her daughter and caregiver, Lea Ann Laverdure, was by her side as she joined those that preceded her. Shirley was born at home to Barney and Gusty Pickar on May 3, 1927 in Cingmars Township (Koochiching County).
She was one of ten children. In her youth she helped on the family farm; cared for younger siblings, nieces and nephews; and cooked at the logging camp where her brother and father logged. As a young woman she moved to St. Paul and worked at Western Electric where she was chosen as the company’s “Hello Charley” girl that came with a professional photography session and several evening dresses.
She later traveled to Denver taking a job as a waitress but returned home to care for a sister with polio. While working at the Chicago Café in International Falls Shirley met and married Walter Whitbeck. Their 56 year love affair ended with Walt’s death in 2011.
She helped support her growing family working as a waitress at the Rex, Island View and Rainy Lake Lodges and the Holiday Inn until she retired in 1985. Together they raised Robyn (Bill Sykes), Lea Ann Laverdure and Walt Whitbeck (Annie Holenko) and were grandparents to Drew Laverdure (Jayme) and Ryan Anderson-Whitbeck (Caitlin Morff) and great grandparents to Dahlia Morff and Melody Ruelle. Shirley took great joy in the small, but important and beautiful things of life.
She loved being surrounded by family on holidays, birthdays and special events. Her flowers and gardens were a daily rdzt/ of pleasure. Visiting humming birds, mourning doves and cardinals always made her smile.
She enjoyed visitors to the small cabin she and Walt had on Jackfish Bay. In her final months the visits, phone calls, cards and flowers from friends and family helped ease the limitations that age placed on her body. She will be missed by her constant canine companion, Nova.
To the end, Shirley had a strength of spirit that helped and supported those around her as her health failed. Her passing leaves a whole in the fabric of the lives she leaves behind, but completes the eternal tapestry she began to weave over ninety–one years ago. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters Marguerette and Bernadine Pickar and Evelyn Dawes; and brothers Donald, Bud, Jack and Leonard Pickar.
She leaves behind siblings Beverly Holcomb and Dennis Pickar and many nieces and nephews from the Pickar and Whitbeck families. Memorial services will be conducted on June 25, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Green Larsen Mortuary. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time.
Friends and Family are invited to gather after the service at 320 19th Street E, (So) International Falls to share memories of Shirley. If so desired, in memoriam donations can be made to Paws and Claws Koochiching County Emergency Rescue, 116 Hiway Lane, Intl. Falls, MN 56649.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Shirley Marie Whitbeck please visit our Sympathy Store. Previous Events Memorial Service , JUN 25.
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