Shirley Jean Probert

Shirley Jean Probert died September 12, 2019 in Prescott, AZ, at the age of 84, after a brave 3 year struggle with stomach cancer. She was born on October 25, 1934 in Salt Lake City, UT, immediately adopted by Fred and Irene Downen of Denver, and raised as Shirley Jean Downen.

Shirley was raised in north Denver, and attended Wheat Ridge High School, class of 1953. She was a serious piano student from age 6 to 18, and studied under Dr. Antonia Brico, founder and conductor of Denver Businessmen’s Orchestra.

At age 18 she married Eugene Seal, and spent several years as an Air Force wife in the US and Germany. After raising her own 5 children, she adopted and raised her daughter Michelle’s son Alan. She and her husband Eugene were divorced in 1976.

Shirley attended several colleges and universities, all the while raising her adopted son (and grandson) Alan, receiving a BA in Fine Arts from the University of California San Bernardino. She was a writer, paralegal, and worked as an electronic assembly person for Motorola wiring and soldering circuit boards.

In 2013 Shirley married W. Harry Probert. She and Harry moved from Costa Mesa, CA to Prescott, AZ that same year.

Her daughter Michelle Gomez died in 2013. Shirley is survived by her husband W. Harry Probert of Prescott; and children Sheryl Malik of New York, Eugene Seal of Utah, Gregory Seal of Utah, Sharlene Saleh of California, and Alan Seal of Utah; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Shirley will be cremated, and her ashes scattered in the mountains. At her request, there will be no services.