Shirley A. Smith, 83, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, went peacefully to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 30, 2020. She was the wife of the late Richard A. Walmsley.
Born and raised in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Alexander and Nora (Davis) Smith. She was a 1956 graduate of New Bedford High School. After her marriage she would reside in Connecticut, North Carolina, Texas and Massachusetts before moving back to New Bedford. Survivors include her six children: Alice A. Walmsley, John F. Walmsley, Jeffrey A. Walmsley, Richard A. Walmsley, Ross A. Walmsley, and Jennifer D. Walmsley; she was predeceased by her daughter Katherine B. Walmsley. She was also “Gram” to nineteen grandchildren and many great-grandchildren as well as “Aunt Shirley" to her many nieces and nephews.
She is survived by two of her twelve siblings: Alice A. Larson of Dartmouth, and Barbara Brennan of Hopkinton. She was predeceased by her siblings: Martha A. Sullivan, Margaret E. O'Neil, Catherine J. Griffin, Alexander Smith, Mary T. Smith, Eleanora S. Fontaine, Natalie B. Arnett, Peter Smith, Winifred A. Smith, and Theresa M. Smith.
Shirley had many careers over her life time of which she was very proud: head teller in several banks, insurance liaison for Ford Motor Credit, clerk for the NY Times/Boston Globe Publication as well as being appointed to the Personnel Board in her former home town, North Attleboro,MA. She was an active member of the Rotary Club for many years. She was a gifted singer, and was featured in the Sturdy Memorial Hospital Follies and in many local restaurants and clubs.
Shirley will be remembered for her wit and sense of humor, her ability to bring groups of people together, growing up on 22 Locust Street New Bedford as a member of the “Smith” family, her pride in her Newfoundland heritage, and for always supporting her New England Patriots, no matter what.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, September 25, at 11:00 am at St. Lawrence Martyr Church. Shirley will be buried at St. Mary's Cemetery alongside of her parents. Memorial donations may be made to the organizations that helped Shirley and her family during her illness: Cape Cod Alzheimer's Family Support Center, 2095 Main St., Brewster MA 02631 or Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation c/o The Alzheimer's Caregiver Support, 4 Bayview St., West Yarmouth MA 02673. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.