Shirley Eloise Holcomb (Gray)

Shirley E. Holcomb, longtime resident of both Grayling and Clare, dies at 85, on Sunday November7, 2010. Born Shirley Eloise Gray in Buel township on June 22, 1925 to Frank and Fern Gray, she was paralyzed at an early age for a year by polio, she spent much of her life caring for and about children. Attending Cros-Lex Schools, she graduated in June of 1944 with a double major of English and Home Economics. Shirley married Sheldon G. Holcomb on Thanksgiving day in 1948 eventually raising two sons and two daughters. (Her husband was a W.W.II veteran and a lifelong employee of the USDA) The Holcombs lived throughout Michigan, Washington, and Georgia retiring in Grayling in 1979. Widowed in 1981, Shirley devoted herself to God serving as deaconess to Calvary Baptist Church; to family and friends including six grandchildren and one great grandson; and the Detroit Tigers traveling to Cooperstown's Baseball Hall of Fame and Tiger Spring Training Camp. Her love of travel took her to forty-nine states during her lifetime with favorite destinations, including Yosemite National Park and the Hawaiian Islands. Shirley's love of children led her to teach, as a volunteer at Grayling Elementary School, six to eight year olds how to read from 1972-1986 being nominated as Volunteer of the Year in 1986. In 1998, she built a home with her daughter residing in Clare until her death. Shirley is survived by sons and their wives: Richard G. Holcomb and Susan Gabelein of Minneapolis, Randy W. Holcomb and Carol Roskam of Kalamazoo; daughters Cheryl F. Doan, and husband James E. of Mt. Pleasant and Marquette, and Nancy K. Holcomb of Clare. She is further survived by grandchildren Jason C. & Joy E. Doan, Nathaniel J. Doan, Alexa G., Gregory J., and Bradley J. Holcomb, and great grandson Evan M. Doan. Shirley is also survived by siblings and in-laws; George and Muriel Gray, Mrs. Connie Miller, Vincent C. Holcomb and Mrs. Barbara Dunham. Also 16 nephews and nieces and numerous great nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by siblings Charles Gray and Mrs. Beth Decker. Shirley passed away at Woodland Hospice of Mt. Pleasant surrounded by family after a long battle with cancer. Visitation will be held on Friday Nov. 12, 2010 between 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday Nov 13, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church with Dr. Robert Barnett officiating. Interment will be at Elmwood Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to www.sorensonlockwood.com Arrangements entrusted to Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Shirley Eloise Holcomb (Gray), please visit our flower store.