CROMWELL, Conn. – Shirley (Miller) Dunning passed away peacefully Oct. 22, 2011, in her sleep at Masonicare Health Center, Wallingford, Conn. Shirley was born June 26, 1922, in Milford, Mass., daughter of the late Kenneth W.A. Miller and Fannie A. (Hutchins) Miller.
Formerly of Jonesport, she had recently resided with her son’s family in Cromwell, Conn. She had many fond memories of her childhood in Massachusetts with her two younger brothers and extended family. A move when she was in high school relocated the family to southern Maine, where she finished her education, graduating from Deering High School, Portland, and Westbrook Junior College. During that time she met her husband, the late Harvey K. Dunning Sr., a 26-year career officer in the U.S. Navy. They enjoyed many years together traveling and moving about the U.S. Wherever they were stationed she always found groups to join and ways to volunteer in each new place, giving her time to help out others. When they retired from the service, their family of three settled in the Dunnings’ hometown, Jonesport. In the more than 40 years Shirley lived there, she was an active participant in the community, as a member of Jonesport Ambulance Service, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 0108, Jonesport Historical Society, Literary Club, co-chairperson of Jonesport Sesquicentennial Committee, Sawyer Memorial Congregational Church, Jonesport Housing Authority and her beloved Tuesday Night Club. She also served with the Extension at University of Maine at Machias, where she received the Washington County Extension Association Distinguished Volunteer Service Award in 1997, as special recognition for her service to the community. She was a willing volunteer whenever there was a need, whether it was as a secretary for Hand-in-Hand or stocking the local food pantry. Of all of these she was most proud of her service to her country as a Navy wife.
She is survived by her son, Harvey K. “Sam” Dunning Jr. and his wife, Jean, of Cromwell, Conn.; her dear grandchildren, Heather Dunning of Queens, N.Y., and her fiance, Eric Boucher, Jonathan Dunning and his wife, Ahnaf Nur, of Wethersfield, Conn., Stuart Miller and his wife, Maggie, of Loveland, Colo.; a sister-in-law, Margaret Miller of Bridgton; a special niece, Sandy Moffett of Jonesport; many other special nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Along with her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Kenneth Miller of Bridgton.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Sawyer Memorial Congregational Church, 28 Sawyer Square, Jonesport. Burial will be private at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, friends and family may remember Shirley with a donation to Sawyer Memorial Congregational Church, 28 Sawyer Square, Jonesport, ME 04649 or by thanking a member of the armed forces for their service. Cromwell Funeral Home, 506 Main St., Cromwell, Conn., is handling the arrangements. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at
www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.