Shirley Katherine Fitzner, 84, of Clearwater, Florida passed away peacefully on July 15th at Suncoast Hospice in Palm Harbor with her family at her side. Her last days were very serene and quiet with no pain or discomfort.
Shirley was born in Wheeling, Illinois on July 24, 1929, the only child of Wendell and Gladys Beaton. She first met her husband Robert Fitzner in high school, and together they attended Cornell University, where Shirley majored in fine art studies and Spanish. After their marriage in 1951, she made numerous moves to various states following her husband’s work in building major construction projects. Since her father was a road builder, Shirley was accustomed to frequent relocations and liked the challenge of moving to new places. Her first daughter Lorrie was born in Minnesota where Robert worked on building an iron ore shipping harbor on Lake Superior. The next move was to New Orleans, a great relief from the harsh Minnesota winter, and she loved the uniqueness of that city. Both her second daughter Pam and son Rob were born during her next move to Kentucky. After managing new homes and new schools for six subsequent relocations, Shirley settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After her children left for college and careers, Shirley and Robert moved to Utah where she especially loved the “red rock” country of Zion, Grand Canyon, and Lake Powell. Her last major move took her to Argentina, where she lived for three years in a special camp built for a major hydroelectric project on the Parana River before making her final move to Clearwater in 1987.
During those years of relocations, Shirley served both as a Sunday school teacher and a Girl Scout leader, and obtained her real estate license in Pennsylvania, where she sold residential property. In Clearwater, she spent numerous years with the Humane Society as a volunteer and a member of the Board of Directors and had a weekly radio spot on station WFLA in Tampa promoting the Pet of the Week and the Humane Society. Shirley was also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority for 65 years where she enjoyed many friendships and fund raising activities.
With more opportunity to travel after her husband’s retirement, she enjoyed a general European tour, followed by a more in-depth visit to England and Scotland. At the clan McDonald home in Scotland Shirley was delighted to find the entry in the huge leather bound clan record book noting the year her grandfather Samuel Beaton had left the Isle of Skye for Nova Scotia. Her subsequent trips included Mexico, Egypt and the Nile River cruise, Hawaii, Korea, Philippine Islands, Borneo and China. Shirley’s ultimate favorite trips were photo safaris to Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana, where she absolutely adored the African wildlife, especially giraffes and cheetahs.
Her most consuming passion was her family, followed by her love for animals of all shapes and sizes, particularly cats. She enjoyed gardening, boating, fishing, walks on the shore, sunsets at the beach looking for the “green flash”, and warm, calm seas.
Shirley is survived by her husband Robert, daughter Lorrie (Fetrow), daughter Pam (Kania), both of Philadelphia, son Rob of Holiday, Florida, five grandchildren: Matt, Leann, Kyle, Ryan and Mark, and one great granddaughter Nora.
Following Shirley’s expressed wishes; she was cremated with no formal funeral ceremony. At an appropriate time her family will gather for a sunset cruise to toast her memory and scatter her ashes in the warm Gulf waters where she often fished in their boat. In lieu of flowers, should anyone wish to donate in Shirley’s memory, please send it to Big Cat Rescue, 12802 Easy Street, Tampa, FL 33625 phone (813) 920-4130 web http://www.BigCatRescue.org. This is an accredited sanctuary for exotic cats from bobcats to tigers, dedicated to rescuing captive cats from abuse and wild cats from extinction. Donations are tax deductible
God bless you and family during this diffiicult time. God’s loving arms wrap around you and keep you in his care
You are all in our thoughts. What an amazing life your mother had. My your wonderful ace memories bring you peace during this difficult time and in the future.
Joanne and Bill
To the greatest woman in my life, I am forever grateful for your enormous heart, endless energy, strong will, grace and tenderness. Know you are loved dearly and remain with me always in mind and spirit.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Your Mom was such a special person and a true blessing to all who knew her. All our love. Nancy & Tom
To Bob & family,
Our deepest sympathies on your loss of Shirley. We had the priviledge of knowing her and sharing her love of animals. Our first connection with Shirley came via Bob’s employment in Clwtr. and her volunteerism with the Humane Society. We benefitted from that mutual love over the last 14 years when Shirley went out of her way and helped us with the adoption of our beloved Doxie Snickers. We often reminisce of how she had a hand
in bringing us our newest family member. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Robert, Rob & Family –
Please accept my condolences on the passing of Shirley. The love shared between you was evident in the care she received the past few years as her health declined. She was a dear person and will truly be missed.
One of our favorite Kappas!
Shirley was always a fine example of womanhood.
Bob,
I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am about the loss of Shirley. It was a pleasure to serve with her for all those years on the Humane Society board, and she was a true animal lover. This world could use a lot more people like her. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
Jim Warren
Karen and I were so saddened when we heard of Shirley’s passing. We have no doubt that in the great beyond she is with her beloved cats, giraffes and cheetahs. We consider ourselves so very lucky to have worked with Shirley at the Humane Society and to have called her our friend. We will miss you Shirley.
God Bless
Karen and Bill Mazurek
Dear Bob and Family,
We have very fond memories of knowing Shirl in Kentucky and also Pittsburgh. Shirl and Freddie Kraus hosted a baby shower for us in Kentucky. Our baby, Jeff, and your son, Rob, would later meet and graduate from North Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh.
Hal and I enjoyed reading of Shirl’s many interests and accomplishments. You must be very proud of her and especially of her devotion to you and the family.
We send our deepest sympathy to you and family in your loss of wife, mother and grandmother. May The Lord comfort you and bring peace at this time.
Hal and Carolyn Moores
Bob – My condolences to you and your family. Shirley was a lovely person; a dedicated and gracious volunteer to her community. She was an exemplary role model of how to behave amongst people and on behalf of animals. It was my pleasure to serve with her as a member of the Board of the Humane Society of Pinellas for many years. My prayers go out to you and your family at this time.
Caroline Goodrich
Dear Bob and family,
my deepest sympathies on the passing of Shirley. She was indeed a wonderful, caring person and it was a pleasure to have known her, worked with her at the Humane Society and I was honored to have called her friend. She was the perfect role model for any woman. She will always be in my thoughts and I know she is at peace now and with the animals she so loved. God bless you and your family and may happy memories of your times with Shirley help ease the pain of her passing.
Bob- My condolences to you and your family. She was a lovely lady and was so nice to my late wife Lois while we were in Evansville. Jack
Dear Grandma,
On your birthday, I am somber. But mostly, I am immensely grateful for all of the lessons and love that you imparted on me, both delivered with effortless perfection. I can never describe how wonderful of a role model you were for me and how wonderful of a role model that you provided for me with my own mother. The legacy of women in our Fitzner/Beaton clan is remarkable and I have you to thank you for. As I said to Grandpa, you showed me how to be a woman ahead of my time. Though my heart still aches that you are gone, I am comforted by the strength and love that you have developed in me and by the peace that I know you now have.
With endless love, Leann