Obituary of Shirley L. Stebbins

Shirley (Watson) Stebbins, age 92, passed to her eternal rest on October 28, 2021. She will be missed but remembered fondly by all who were blessed to know her. Shirley lived a fruitful and full life. A long time resident of Munroe Falls, she grew up on the North farm on N. River Road. She graduated from Stow High in 1947 and married William Watson, her first and greatest love. They built a home on the farm and raised two children, Jeffrey, living in Wamego, Kansas and Rebecca, who resides in Punta Gorda, Florida. During her time in Munroe Falls, she was active in 4-H, advising the Country Kids 4-H club for many years. She served as PTA president at Riverview Elementary School and devoted her time to gardening and sharing with her friends and neighbors in the N. River Road Women’s Club. She continued to raise her family and be a symbol of love following the death of her first husband, Bill. She was a courageous and successful single mother for several years until she met and married Thomas Stebbins. Shortly after her marriage, they moved to S. Charleston, West Virginia where both Shirley and Thomas were very active in their church. They enjoyed many wonderful years in West Virginia and traveling throughout the eastern United States. She most enjoyed when the grandchildren visited with them through the summer months. Tom passed away in 1993 and Shirley moved back to Stow, Ohio where she lived for many years at Silver Lake Towers. In her later years, she enjoyed her family and her dear friends at the Towers. She doted on her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even her great-great grandchildren. The children were her greatest joy. Shirley moved to Florida and lived with her daughter, Rebecca, for a time and eventually moved to Wamego, Kansas and lived with her son, Jeff and daughter-in-law, Patti. She grew to love the wide open spaces of Kansas and enjoyed riding her scooter around the neighborhood under the sunny skies. She finally moved to Vintage Park Assisted Living home in Wamego, Kansas, where she lived her remaining years. There she met and became close friends with other residents and also with the staff who were so kind to her through her last days. Shirley was a fighter to the end who relished life and was devoted to her friends, and especially her family. She survived the Great Depression, several bouts of cancer, the loss of two wonderful husbands, a serious heart condition, and debilitating arthritis but never lost her hope, her smile, and her joy of life. She touched many lives in many places and left this earthly home happy and full of life to the end. Shirley is survived by her son, Jeffrey; her daughter, Rebecca; their spouses, Patti Watson and Dale Knight; grandchildren, BJ and Brandy Watson, Patrick and Jocelyn Watson, Nicole and Dan Crafton, Corrine and Chris Brown, Stephen Knight, and Eric and Rachel Knight; 13 great-grandchildren, and eight great-great grandchildren. Friends are invited to Redmon Funeral Home for visitation Wednesday 6 to 8 PM. Mass of the Christian Burial Thursday 10 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 1905 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls 44223. Interment will follow at Stow Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to her favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, are encouraged.