Shirley Ann Noonan, 74, of Decatur, IL passed away peacefully at home on November 14, 2006 after a valiant battle with cancer. Shirley was born Sept. 26, 1932 in Olney, IL, the eldest daughter of Harle and Martha Walden. Upon graduating from high school she moved to Decatur, IL and eventually met and married James Noonan.

She is survived by her husband James, her five sons- James David, Steven Edward (Sue), Scott Allen, Joseph Walden (Tara), and Kelly Thomas (Cari). She is also survived by 7 grand children (soon to be 8), two great grandchildren, her sister, Barbara Blancett and a number of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Shirley loved her family more than anything else. Keeping tabs on her children and grandchildren occupied much of her time. She also found great enjoyment in volunteering. Some of her dearest friends were her fellow Kiawanians. The shear volume of cards and notes they have sent her during her illness alone is impressive. She found the time spent volunteering at the hospital the most fulfilling. When she worked in the surgical waiting room- answering phones and speaking with worried family members, she felt she was really doing something meaningful. She said she missed that the most when she became too ill to do it anymore. She was an avid reader who loved to stay up on current political events. She would passionately argue her point and she was so well informed it was hard to disagree with her.

Genealogy was her other great passion. She researched and documented the far reaches of her family ancestry. Her genealogical work often involved her and Jim on "research trips" that took them to courthouses, graveyards, and libraries around the Midwest. She once said that genealogy made her realize that we are individual tiles within a huge mosaic of humanity. It gave a sense that each individual was important and yet it was also humbling to see that we were but a small part of a great whole.

Friends and family are the things she valued most. When her mother moved into a nursing home she visited daily. Even after several small strokes and a brain tumor left her mother unable to communicate, Shirley would visit daily to feed and care for her.

Information provided by Norma Jean Byram Wortman (Cl of 1950) & Herald & Review (Decatur, IL) - Thursday, November 16, 2006