BAILEYVILLE – Shirley Elaine Merrithew, 72, died unexpectedly after a very courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease, Tuesday, March 7, 2006, at a Calais nursing home. Shirley was born March 8, 1933, in St. Stephen, N.B., daughter of the late William and Harriet (Russell) Thornton. She was employed as a nurse’s aide on the floor and the x-ray department at Calais Regional Hospital for many years, then with A.N. Deringer, retiring in 1995. Shirley was a member of the Peoples United Methodist Church in Baileyville, the Sweet Adelines, and was Past Worthy Matron of Orion Chapter No. 45 O.E.S. of Calais. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, spending time with her grandchildren, singing, the outdoors and had a very giving spirit to others. Shirley was predeceased by a sister, Bernice DeGuire; two brothers, William and Russell Thornton; and her previous husband, Eugene I. Merrithew. Surviving are four children, Susan Maioriello and husband, Joseph, of Schenectady, N.Y., Denise McShane and husband, Joseph, of St. Stephen, Eugene Merrithew Jr. and wife, Elizabeth, of Spokane, Wash. and Beth Merrithew of Calais; two sisters, Francis Dwelley of Frostproof, Fla. and Joan Middlemiss of St. Stephen; six grandchildren, Lindsey and Julianne Maioriello, Bethanie, Ashley and Jillian McShane, and Lauren Merrithew; several nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Her Life will be held 6 p.m. Friday, March 10, at Mays Funeral Home, 26 Church St., Calais. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley’s memory may be made to the Maine Parkinson Society, 100 US Rt. 1 Unit No. 106, Scarborough, ME 04074. Friends may pay tribute at www.maysfuneralhome.com
SHIRLEY E. MERRITHEW
