Shirley J. Southworth

May 31, 1936 - May 31, 2006

Shirley M. Southworth, age 70, of Beaver Dam, went to celebrate her birthday with the Lord on Wednesday, May 31, 2006. She fought a two year courageous battle against ovarian cancer. Shirley was surrounded by her three loving children. Mom was a special treasure, a kind, generous woman, who was loved by her family and friends.

Friends and family may call at the Faith Community Christian Reformed Church in Beaver Dam on Friday, June 2, 2006 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Funeral services will follow at church on Friday, beginning at 3:00 PM. Rev. David Dykstra will officiate. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in the Town of Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wisconsin.

Our mother, the former Shirley Mae Bires, was born on May 31, 1936 in Wisconsin Rapids to the late Edward H. and Helen M. (Weber) Bires. She attended grade school at St. Lawrence School and graduated high school from Lincoln High School in 1954. On April 7, 1956, mom was united in marriage with Thomas Helms. She worked at Marshfield Clinics from 1967 until she moved to Beaver Dam in 1970 . On June 27, 1970, she was united in marriage with Richard Southworth. She worked at Medical Associates in Beaver Dam until 1982 when she went to work for Dr. Stanley Cupery. Mom continued there until she retired in 1996. She was an exceptional cook who enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren at frequent family gatherings. In recent years, mom enjoyed traveling with her family and friends to Spain, Switzerland, Hawaii, and other places in America. She will be profoundly missed by all those who loved and cared for her. She was a member of Faith Community Christian Reformed Church in Beaver Dam.

Survivors include her three children, Rev. Steven Helms of Lapeer, Michigan, Michael (Patricia) Helms of Beaver Dam and Ann (Paul) Breuer of Beaver Dam; four grandchildren, Mark and Rebecca Helms and Matthew and Sarah Breuer; two brothers, Edward (Judy) Bires and Robert Bires, both of Wisconsin Rapids; two sisters, Carol Becker of Marshfield and Judy (Marv) Whitney of Wisconsin Rapids; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Richard, and her mother-in-law, Catherine Southworth.

The family suggests that memorials be made in Shirley M. Southworth”s name to Faith Community Christian Reformed Church in Beaver Dam, Hillside Hospice in Beaver Dam or to Shirley”s family to be used for other memorial donations.

The Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam is serving the family. www.MurrayFH.com

Service Details

Friday, June 2nd, 2006, 3:00pm, Faith Community Christian Reformed Church-Beaver Dam

Interment Details

Oakwood Cemetery-Beaver Dam

See Condolences

What amazed me most about Mom -from her son Mike What amazed me most about Mom? When she was told she had cancer and she knew she was going to die, she didn

Shirley will be sorely missed by all who knew her. When I first met her, I felt blessed that she would be my daughter''s "other mother" when she married and moved away to Wisconsin. It made my daughter''s absence so much easier to bear. Shirley was a strong and courageous woman. She was also blessed with children and grand-kids that were so devoted to her. Her ideals will live on in them as well as many of us that were touched by her life and the way she faced her death. She was certainly a beautiful gift from God. I pray that her family will find peace as they remember her. She has gone home now, but left just enough of her life in all of us. I love you dearly, Shirley and I thank God for the blessing of bringing our families together.

What amazed me most about Mom -from her son Mike What amazed me most about Mom? When she was told she had cancer and she knew she was going to die, she didn

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.