Shirlee Mae Terman

On the afternoon of Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Shirlee Terman went home to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was 93 years old. Born Shirley Mae Murray on May 3, 1931 to parents Jack Murray and Myrtle Ferguson, both of Bellingham, Washington, Shirlee grew up in Bellingham, graduated from Bellingham High School in 1949, and became a switchboard operator for Pacific Northwest Bell’s Bellingham office in 1952, where she remained employed until the late 1970s. She later worked for Visiting Nurse, providing loving care to each of her clients, and in the early 1990s, Shirlee worked the morning shift at Lafeen’s Donuts. Shirlee had a beautiful singing voice, a talent she passed down through the generations. She loved to dance, was an amazing seamstress, a fearless road warrior on many, many road trips, and enjoyed baking special treats for her family and friends. She was a performer at heart, a passion she used to entertain her patrons at Lafeen’s with song and dance while they waited in line! An active member of Laurel Church for more than 30 years, Shirlee gave herself in service to children’s ministries, designing and creating costumes for children’s performances, caring for little ones in the nursery and in Sunday school. She further blessed the family of Laurel by singing on the worship team as well as preparing the elements for communion, and working in the kitchen for many years. Shirlee was a friend indeed and skilled at blooming where she was planted. Whether friends from childhood, fellow employees from the phone company, members of Curves, her neighborhood on the corner of Patton and W. Indiana, her community at The Vintage, or our cousins’ group, Shirlee showed up. She showed up at happy hour, at barbeque parties, at church events, school functions and anywhere she could support her loved ones in their ventures and aspirations. She brought the fun and the treats to every gathering. And she provided loving care to those in need, whether illness, injury, grief, or end of life, Shirlee was the faithful, loving friend who could always be counted on. She always showed up. Above all, Shirlee loved her family, giving herself to the care, support, and nurture of three generations of us, providing whatever she could to help us all become our best selves. She was blessed to be able to provide a little love even to the fourth generation with the birth of her first great-great grandchild in June of 2024. She also had countless honorary children and grandchildren. She was everyone’s “Gramma.” She nurtured and loved all those she came across. The epitome of what it means to love unconditionally. She was always happiest surrounded by her loved ones. She loved the babies! The most pure joy could be seen on her face when holding a baby in her arms. Shirlee was preceded in death by her parents, sister Sharon Wyatt, nephews Alan Wyatt and Ronnie Wyatt, grandson Michael Root, and great grandson Seann O’Clair. She is survived by daughters Susan (Ray) Moore and Sheila (Tony) Johnson, grandchildren Stacey (Bill) Maxwell, Nathan (Rachael) McFarland, Shannon (Shelly Arndt) Rosenberg, and Alissa Root, great grandchildren Shiloh O’Clair, Alex (Stephen King) O’Clair, Bayli Collins, Trevor Root, Tyler Root, Michael Maxwell, and Olivia McFarland, great-great granddaughter Willow Grace King, nephew Donnie Wyatt, nieces Linda Struthers, Debby Wyatt, and Renee Wyatt, and many great nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 3rd at 1:00 p.m. at Laurel Church, 162 W. Laurel Rd., Bellingham, Washington. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local Hospice or Washington Autism Alliance.

Shirlee Mae Terman

May 3, 1931 - March 25, 2025