AUSTIN
Shirley Ann Coons, 91, died Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at her home in Austin, Texas surrounded by her family.
She was born October 26, 1931 to M. J. Olive Mulaire in Waltham, Massachusetts. On November 23, 1958, she married the love of her life, Dale Edward Coons in Waltham. Dale and Shirley had three children, Clayton (Georgiann) Coons of Seymour, IN, Corinne (Michael) Gallagher of Austin, TX, and Leslie Coons of Charlotte, NC; five grandchildren Sarah (Adam) Anderson, Maggie (Nate) Cole, Will (Rhiannon) Coons, Ian Gallagher, and Sydney Gallagher; and 6 Great-grandchildren, Tommy Anderson, Nate Anderson, Alex Anderson, Paul Cole, Olive Cole, and Abby Anderson. Shirley was preceded in death by her mother and her husband, and by Corinne and Amede Boudreau, her beloved bonus parents.
Shirley attended high school at Rosary Academy in Waltham, where she graduated in 1949, and had trained as a classical concert pianist. Encouraged by the Sisters at Rosary to see the world, she went on to serve her country at the age of eighteen, becoming a recruiter for the United States Air Force for four years and was discharged in 1954 as one of the top female recruiters. She then graduated at the top of her class from Lincoln Chiropractic College, Indianapolis, in 1957, and although she never practiced as a chiropractor, she gave the best head massages and neck adjustments.
In 1958, Shirley met Dale. The meeting was a bit of a fairytale, to hear Shirley tell it: the two met at Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance classes in Indianapolis and married six months later. Dale and Shirley were married for forty-nine years at the time of his passing.
As Dale completed his Ph.D. at Indiana University, Shirley worked at the Indiana State Teachers Association from 1961 until 1969; she often told people it was the best job she ever had, as she was involved with the ISTA at the Statehouse, involved in many legislative matters aimed to benefit Indiana teachers.
In 1973, Dale’s career moved the family to Nashville, TN and then to Akron, OH where she started her long, successful career in real estate, first at Marting Realty in 1975. Over the years Shirley worked at several Akron real estate companies – MacInnis, Carolyn Reilly, and Repetti Realty – before becoming broker/owner of RE/MAX Keystone Realty in West Akron with her business partner, Celeste Frank. At RE/MAX, Shirley loved working with first-time home buyers and often discounted her commission to help her clients find their dream homes.
Among Shirley’s greatest loves was spending time with her family, playing the piano, and leading singalongs. As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, being with her kids was her greatest joy, and she treasured those many weeks when the grandchildren would make extended visits to Akron; she took them with her on real estate caravans and open houses, read to them, made important Friendly’s ice cream runs, and helped them make memories of life at 213 Castle Boulevard that they hold near and dear to their hearts. She loved re-telling the stories of Sarah, at age two, ordering a salad with Bleu Cheese dressing and Maggie doing “important office work” with Grandma Shirley. She shared a special bond with her youngest grandchild Sydney, a fellow Scorpio. Shirley also took great pride in watching her grandsons, Ian and Will pursue their dreams.
After Dale passed away in 2008, Shirley moved to Austin, Texas to live with Corinne and her family, where she was cared for until her passing.
She will forever be remembered as a strong, independent, spunky, female role model for her family and all who were blessed to know her. Her memory will live on with us forever. In her honor, the family asks you pour a glass of wine or have a gin and tonic, enjoy a delicious cheeseburger, watch a Hallmark movie, and call the ones you love and have a nice long phone conversation.
Memorials in Shirley’s honor may be made to Cella Bella Hospice in Austin, TX.