Shirley Jeanne Myers, 93

Longtime Center resident Shirley Jeanne Myers passed away Oct. 14, 2020. She was born Feb. 1, 1927, in Longmont, Colorado to August and Lillian (Swanson) Borgmann. She married Donald E. Myers at The Rinn Church July 11, 1948. Shirley was a longtime member of the Center United Methodist Church and very active in the community. Before there was a Center Food Bank, Shirley would prepare and deliver meals to families in need around Center. She would often glean her garden and donate the produce to families that needed food. Shirley was a member of the Master Farm Homemakers and the Heart and Eagle Club, part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and Alpine Artists.


Shirley was the true farmer’s wife. She helped out on the farm whenever needed. She had a passion for gardening and loved working with the roses that filled her greenhouse. Shirley would keep them picked so she could cut them at just the right maturity so she could take a bucket full of them to church Sunday morning to share with others. Many people will remember her as “The Rose Lady.” She enjoyed playing Bridge, knitting and going to Santa Maria Reservoir.


Shirley and Don were able to travel during the off farming months. They valued their opportunity to travel to Africa on a People-to-People tour where they actually met and stayed with some farmers in Africa. Although they traveled to all parts of the U.S. they also traveled internationally. They toured Australia and New Zealand in an R.V. caravan, cruised the fjords of Norway and saw the sacred site of the Holy Land. Shirley and Don used their timeshare in Mazatlan for over 35 years. Shirley continued going to Mazatlan until she just couldn’t travel anymore. She spoke often about friends she had from Mazatlan and even traveled to visit some of them in Canada.


Shirley is survived by her children, Caren (David) Graham, Gerald (Vickie) Myers and Cheryl (Duane) Fransen, her grandchildren, Kelly (Travis) Polzin, Ryan (Casey) Graham, Cory (Brandy) Myers, Brad (Brittany) Myers, Dale (Keri) Fransen and Matthew Fransen as well as her great grandchildren, Tyler Polzin, Alexis Polzin, Shelby Graham, Chase Graham, Hayden Graham and Coulter Myers, Corbin Myers, Colsen Myers, Katelynn Myers, Wesley Fransen, Aaron Fransen and Tucker Fransen. She is also survived by her sister Martha (Conrad) Hoppe and numerous nieces and nephews.


Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one grandson (Richard Fransen), and five siblings.


A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 at the San Luis Valley Cemetery, “The Valley Cemetery” located at 3762 W U.S. Hwy. 160 W   Monte Vista, Colorado. All guests are invited to bring their own chairs. Contributions are suggested to the Center United Methodist Church or the Rio Grande Hospital and may be made in care of the funeral home office. To express condolences, please visit www.rogersfunerals.com


Rogers Family Mortuary in Monte Vista is in care of the arrangements