Shirlee Doreen Robertson Etzel , lifelong resident of Carbon County peacefully passed away January 23, 2019 in Orem, Utah. Shirlee, the daughter of James Elmer and Inez Maude Goulding Robertson was born May 4, 1924 in Helper, Utah. She was a sister to Rita Oldroyd, Colleen Huff, and Bill Robertson. She married Remo Etzel on October 26, 1941 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He passed away on September 16, 2017. Shirlee leaves behind three daughters, Connie (Doyle) Reeve, Janis (Gary) Blake, and Kathryrn Etzel (Evan Fillmore), six grandchildren: LaRisse’, Vallarie, Erika, DesiRee’, De Andre’ and KJ, along with fourteen great-grandchildren.
When asked in November 2018, Mom said the following about her life.
Remo and I had a good life with few regrets.
All that I saw and all that I did was with Remo by my side for nearly 76 years. We did everything we could–together.
Remo and I would take our grandchildren to Joe’s Valley every summer from the time they were three until they were eighteen years old. They rode motorbikes, made snail houses, ate camper pies, and played dress up. I made runny yolk fried eggs perfect for dipping biscuits.
We took our girls and grandchildren to the tabernacle to see Music and the Spoken Word and then rode the trolley car around Salt Lake.
Remo and I were avid golfers. Many hours were spent with our friends on golf courses in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. Our favorite course was the one at home in Price, where I was a member of the Carbon Country Club Ladies’ Association for nearly 60 years.
We were not the youngest or the best, but we sure had fun as members of our local bowling league for over 25 years. Neither of us ever bowled a perfect game.
Oh, the places I’ve been, and the things I’ve seen.
Remo and I enjoyed Mexican bullfights, horse races in California, trips to Alaska, New York, Boston, Branson, the Rose Bowl Parade, Hawaii, and Wickenburg Bluegrass Festivals (annually for 18 years). We also traveled abroad to Italy to visit Remo’s family and celebrate the Battle of the Bulge 60th Anniversary in Belgium and Luxembourg (Remo was in Patton’s 3rd Army). We pulled our 25-foot trailer to the Northwest, and road in a bus to the Northeast to see the autumn leaves. Yet, after seeing other places throughout the world, we both knew that there was no better place than Price to live and raise our children.
As far back as I can remember I had a variety of jobs.
As a young girl, I picked strawberries and cherries in Utah County. I worked as a meat packer at Cudahy Packing in North Salt Lake. I was an elevator operator at the New House Hotel in Salt Lake for one day. That job made me dizzy.
While living in Los Angeles, I worked at a Sears warehouse. Every morning, I would put on my roller skates and carry items to the conveyer belt. I also cleaned the inside of airplane gas tanks with a swab attached to a stick. It was my job to remove the lint and debris that had collected there. I also maneuvered through the LA traffic as a taxi driver.
My working days ended at Safeway in Price. I retired after 26 years. While there, I made many lifelong friends.
Songs that were special to me included: “Pistol Packin’ Mama,” “Ten Pretty Girls,” “Mairzy Doats,” “East Bound Train,” “Can’t Smile Without You,” and our song “Because of You.”
Some of my favorite movies and TV shows were White Christmas, Singin’ in the Rain, Harper Valley PTA, Stalag 17, Parent Trap with Lindsay Lohan, Shark Tank, Dancing With the Stars, and Gomer Pyle.
Every Saturday night, Remo and I would watch The Lawrence Welk Show. When the music moved us, we would dance to those great songs.
I loved movies starring Jeanette McDonald, Nelson Eddy, Gene Kelly, Dick Powell, June Allyson, Judy Garland, Doris Day, and William Holden. I guess I liked them all.
I listened to the McGuire Sisters, the Lennon Sisters, Eddy Arnold, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and the Glenn Miller band. I enjoyed all of the 40’s music.
One of my favorite holiday memories was Christmas in Castle Gate, Utah. We would travel from house to house Christmas Day to visit with our family and friends.
My radio! Oh my radio! That is still the first thing turned on in the morning and the last thing turned off at night for, well, I don’t remember how long. I listen to country, blue grass and the 40’s. I love to just sit and listen for hours. Those songs often make my day.
Words I live by:
Put your family first, then your job, and everything will work out.
Watch your pennies, and your dollars will take care of themselves.
Different strokes for different folks.
Life is short. Stop and smell the roses.
Fairy tales can come true,
It can happen to you,
So be careful what you say.
When a job must be done,
Never leave it till it’s done.
If that task be great or small,
Do it well or not at all.
When I’m worried and I can’t sleep,
I count my blessings instead of sheep.
And I fall asleep counting my blessings.
The family would like to thank everyone at Summerfield Assisted Living in Orem, Utah for truly going out of their way to make Mom’s days there enjoyable. A special thank you to those who helped her the day she was sealed to Dad. We will never be able to repay you for the compassion and love you so willingly offered to our mother, Shirlee spelled with two e’s.
Friends may visit her family Saturday, February 2, 2019 from 9:30-10:30AM prior to her funeral services at 11:00AM at the Price Fourth Ward Chapel (545 East 400 North). Interment will follow at the Price City Cemetery.
At Shirlee’s request, in lieu of flowers please donate to the Primary Children’s Hospital Foundation PO Box 58249 Salt Lake City, Utah 84158-0249.