Shirley was born to Turner R. Watson and Lula I. Upton and raised on a vegetable and tobacco farm in Millersville, MD as the youngest of nine brothers and sisters. She stayed true to these beginnings with her lifelong love of gardening and planting trees and shrubs of every kind.
Shirley attended Stayers Business College in the 1940s before later going on to become a head teller at what began as Union Trust Bank and is now known as Wells Fargo.
In retirement, Shirley spent much of her time in church related activities at Bethany Lane Baptist Church and volunteering in charitable organizations.
Shirley kept a sharp sense of humor for all her life – two weeks shy of 98 years. Among her many accomplishments, she would say that being a mom was her most important and cherished role. She will be dearly missed!
Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, her eight siblings and her husband George Rist, Sr. who built each of the two houses they lived in for many years.
Shirley is survived by her three children and their spouses: George Rist, Jr. and wife, Karen Rist, Nancy Hess and husband, John Hess, and Duane D. Rist. She also has three grandchildren: Kristen Hess Loewe and husband Kevin Loewe, Lauren Hess Winemiller and husband, Mark Winemiller, and Molly E. Rist. Six great-grandchildren add to her blessings.
Private services will be held at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens at graveside.
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