SHIRLEY CROSBY OBITUARY

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray, you'll never know dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away."

"You Are My Sunshine" was her husband's song to her, a song Mrs. Shirley ("Barrie") J. Barrett Crosby held near and dear to her heart for all the years since her husband's passing. Shirley, 93, passed away peacefully in her Albuquerque home on Tuesday afternoon, January 5, 2016 during a beautiful rendition of the song played on a harp as her family sang along.

Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1922, Shirley graduated from South Bend Central High School, South Bend, Indiana in 1940. She joined the United States Navy Women Accepted Volunteer Emergency Services (WAVES) in 1943. She was assigned to the University of Wisconsin at Madison. There she met aviation cadet Gerald L. Crosby (Jerry) on a blind date. Letters started flying back and forth and the relationship grew. Soon after, she was invited to a special event weekend for Jerry's West Point class (1945): dinner at the Hotel Pennsylvania, dancing to Les Brown, "Sentimental Journey" and a marriage proposal. WAVE Specialist 3/c Barrett and Lieutenant Crosby were married April 18, 1945. Life could not have been sweeter.

A global life spanning 66 years of marriage followed until Jerry passed away in 2011. Living in Vietnam, Tunisia, Argentina, and Panama, Shirley and Jerry raised their four children and followed a life of adventure and travel, sun, sand and water. Shirley missed her beloved Jerry. During the next four years she engaged in the lives of her children, Michael, Barbara, Patricia and Theresa, seven grandchildren (Marc, Kathryn, Deborah, David, Jason, Taylor and Tory) and five great grandchildren. There wasn't anyone she wouldn't talk to, and indeed, would spend time chatting with total strangers whenever she had the chance.

Her life was incredibly blessed by a diversity of friends, family and living experiences. She will be remembered for her devotion to family, her homemaking, and her sharp and intuitive mind to her last days.

A special thanks to Gertrude Tafoya, a most caring, loving friend and extended family member, and to Donese Mayfield for "You are My Sunshine."

Services for Shirley will be on Thursday, January 14, 2016, 11 a.m. at Daniels Family Funeral Services - Wyoming Chapel, 7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE. with a reception following.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Shirley's honor to Little Sisters of the Poor www.littlesistersofthepoor.org

To share memories with family please visit

www.danielsfuneral.com

Published by Albuquerque Journal from Jan. 10 to Jan. 12, 2016