Traverse City Record-Eagle

Archive: Wednesday

December 12, 2012

Shirley Ann Perin

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TRAVERSE CITY — Shirley Ann (Abbott) Perin died Dec. 6, 2012 surrounded by her family.

Shirley was born to Ernest J. and Marion E. (Rich) Abbott on April 5, 1934 in Ann Arbor. She married Dale Orrin Perin on Dec. 26, 1953 also in Ann Arbor and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in dietary sciences at Michigan State University.

Shirley was a life-long gardener, frustrated by having to divide her efforts between her home in Traverse City and her beloved summer cottage in McGregor Bay, Ontario. For many years she was a Girl Scout leader and delighted in taking her Scouts camping and canoeing along the Manistee River. Shirley also loved to swim, sail and kayak in McGregor Bay and would scramble across the rocks for hours in search of every last wild blueberry.

She was an active member of both St. Christopher's Anglican Church in McGregor Bay and Faith Reformed Church in Traverse City where she made a joyful noise in the choir and participated in the Stephen Ministry, Evangelism Explosion and the 55+ Bible Study group. She and Dale ushered regularly at Interlochen, and Shirley volunteered and worked locally for Meals on Wheels. In her spare time, she was an avid quilter, completing beautiful original quilts for her grandchildren as they went off to college and as they married. She also enjoyed reading, playing cards with her family and friends, and knitting crazy socks to keep everyone's feet toasty warm.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Jean P. Good Broberg. She will be remembered with great joy and love by her husband of 59 years, Dale; her brother George E. (Jan) Abbott; her four daughters, Martha (Stewart) MacLeod; Amy (Timothy J.) Bass; Linda; and Jill (Hratch) Avakian; her four grandchildren, Jennifer (Luke) Bourassa; Andrea (Michael) Courtright; Alyson Avakian; and her favorite grandson Alec Avakian; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, at Faith Reformed Church in Traverse City to celebrate her life.

The Perin family would like to thank the staff of Orchard Creek Assisted Living and Hospice of Michigan for the very loving care they provided; as well as their many wonderful friends and sister- and brother-in-law Shirley and Lloyd Miller; who provided an outpouring of love and support.

In lieu of flowers, any memorial contributions may be made to Children's Ministries at Faith Reformed Church, 1139 E. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49686 or to Hospice of Michigan, 900 E. Front St., Ste 150, Traverse City, MI 49686.

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