Shirley Lorraine Taylor Shaw, 75, of New Castle, PA departed this life after extended health issues on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, PA.
Born on September 11, 1947, Shirley was the baby of 18 children to the late Aubrey and Maggie Phenola Carter Taylor and was a New Castle Senior High graduate.
Later in life, Shirley moved to Swissvale PA and eventually married the late Walter Shaw. Their house was on a popular bus route and was well known for her holiday decorations. For as long as her health allowed, Shirley went “all out” for EVERY major holiday including Valentine’s Day, St. Patty’s Day and the Fourth of July. She had numerous yard ornaments, signs and a slew of lights for each one. People had frequently told her they had come from different parts of Pittsburgh just to see her displays. She also enjoyed plants and crafts.
Shirley was very family oriented and if you were hospitalized in Pittsburgh you could depend on Shirley to come visit you, no matter how many buses she had to take. She supported the smallest accomplishments of her friends, their children and grandchildren, her siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to her husband and parents, Shirley was preceded in death by seven sisters, Inez Yellock, Maggi Taylor, Naomi “Omie” Brown, Joan Taylor, Phyllis Taylor, Eleanor Richardson, and Margaret “Marnee” Johnson. Five brothers Aubrey Jr, Robert “Bud”, Harold “Sheebie”, Raymond “Ribby” and Phillip Taylor, stepdaughter Linda Shaw and longtime best friend Jeannie Bethune.
She will be sadly missed by her brother Donald “Bobo” Taylor; stepchildren, Walter Shaw of Pittsburgh & Stephen (Vicky) Shaw of Akron, Ohio, eight godchildren, her namesake Shirley Cuffie, Floyd Jackson, Marlene Bailey, Lloyd Johnson, Spencer, Isabella and Austen Lane and Robby Bethune. special niece, Jada Taylor, special nephew Freddie Lane, longtime close friends Tracy and Leslie Jean Bethune. four sisters Evelyn “Ellie” (Paul) Ward, Jean (Leroy) Shepherd both of New Castle, Thelma “Butchie” Franklin of Roanoke, VA and Juanita “NeeNee” (Bill) Malone of Jacksonville, FL.
A Memorial service will be held on Wednesday May 17th at 12pm; at St Luke A.M.E Zion Church 603 Harbor St. New Castle, PA 16101. Services entrusted to Washington Funeral Home & Cremations, 1411 6th Avenue, Beaver Falls. PA; Regina Washington Supervisor
