Shirley McMahon Peterson, 82

Shirley was born on November 14, 1931, in Spokane, Wash., the first child of Raymond Maurer and Ruby Bailey Maurer. She had two younger siblings, Joan and Richard, and many cousins since her mother was the youngest of nine children. Shirley had fond memories of many family reunions held in Colville, Wash., where her parents were raised.

Shirley was born during the depression, and her father found work with the Civilian Conservation Corp as a lead vehicle mechanic in the Riggins and Elk City area of the Idaho and Salmon River. The family lived there about nine months of the year for several years. Shirley had many stories about attending school in a one-room building with kids of all ages. However, she didn’t have to ride a horse to school like her mother!

In 1949, Shirley graduated from North Central High School in Spokane. She was a member of the Red Feathers, a marching/drill team lead by the long time family friend, Miss Elsa Pinkham - affectionately known as "Pinx." During and after high school, Shirley worked at Kress department store and the phone company.

Shirley married Terence "Terry" McMahon in 1951. They lived in Spokane and moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in 1955. Shirley and Terry enjoyed summer visits to the McMahon family cabin at Priest Lake, which Terry’s father built in 1919. 

In 1962, Shirley and Terry built their home at Hayden Lake, located on McMahon Road. Shirley was a homemaker and raised four wonderful children: Shawn Terry, Sherry Claire, Kenneth Lee, and Keri Ann.

Summers were spent swimming and fishing on Hayden Lake. Shirley loved to garden and had beautiful flower beds, fruit trees, vegetables, and an outstanding raspberry patch. In the winter, ice skating on Hayden Lake was a treat for everyone, and sledding down the road to the lake was an almost daily occurrence for the kids.

Shirley's sister, Joan, lived nearby in Spokane, and the families shared many special times together, which included many holidays. Joan’s two boys, Jerry and Mike Zink, were frequent visitors at Hayden Lake.

Shirley was active for many years in Beta Sigma Phi, a social and cultural organization, whose motto is, “Life, Learning and Friendship.” She was also involved with the Christian women’s group, Aglow. Shirley served on numerous local boards and committees, moving on to Aglow International. In 1985, she traveled to Israel with a girlfriend to see the Holy Lands.

Shirley married William "Bill" Peterson in 1987. Shirley and Bill traveled around the Pacific Northwest, sometimes trailering their boat so Bill could fish! They also traveled to Sweden to see the Peterson ancestral home. 

For the last few years, Shirley lived in Texas, close to her daughter Sherry and other extended family.  

Shirley was preceded in death by husband, Bill, in January 2008; and her brother, Richard, in 1963.  

Shirley is survived by her son, Shawn McMahon (Lani), and granddaughter, Zoe; daughter, Sherry Biggs (Gary), grandchildren, Eric Biggs and Whitney Gordon (Kirk), and great grandchildren: Kirkland, Genevieve, and Alaina; son, Ken McMahon; daughter, Keri Reynolds (Shannon), grandchildren: Erin Gillaspy, Justin Peterson, and Alisa Kniffin (Josh), and great grandchildren, Hayden and Kadence; and sister, Joan Zink.

A memorial service for Shirley will be held at 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 9, at the Hayden Lake Seventh-Day Adventist Church, where she and Bill were members. An earlier service was held on June 30, in Rockwall, Texas, for family and friends.