Shirley Jean Wolfe

Prominent Prescott resident Shirley Wolfe died peacefully at her home in Dewey on October 14, 2011 surrounded by family. Shirley Jean Tharp was born May 5, 1928 in Hutchinson, Kansas to Leonal Fay and Dallace Alma (Manche) Tharp. She graduated from Fort Hays Kansas State University with a BS, and later earned her MA from Northern Arizona University. She was a lifelong member of Alpha Delta Kappa, Alpha Psi Omega, Alpha Sigma Alpha, and Beta Sigma Phi, serving as an officer in each sorority or organization. Shirley was also a catcher for a semi-professional women's baseball team and maintained a love of the game for the rest of her life. The Tharp family moved to Prescott in 1955 where they owned and operated Lazy Acres Motel on White Spar Road. Here Shirley met and married Navy Recruiter Wesley Dean Wolfe in 1957. She accompanied him to Midway Island in late 1958 where she served as a teacher for the US Armed Forces School. When Dean retired from the Navy, the Wolfes returned to Yavapai County, eventually settling permanently in Prescott in 1965 with their two children. Shirley went to work with Prescott Public Schools where she remained for 25 years, devoting long hours to her avocation as a teacher of speech and drama, department head, and then counselor at Prescott Junior High School. For more than a decade, Shirley managed Hendrix Auditorium on the junior high campus. There she was technical director and producer for the Yavapai Symphony, Sweet Adelines, Men's Barbershop, annual high school musicals, Miss Yavapai pageants, local dance and theatrical programs, and almost every touring production/event that visited Prescott in the mid-60s and 70s. She is remembered by many long-time locals for the annual Christmas pageants she wrote, directed, produced, costumed, staged, and promoted. In the 80s she treasured her times of involvement with technical aspects of local Pow Wows hosted by the Yavapai-Prescott Tribe. Her admiration and respect for Arizona's Native American cultures ran deep and was reflected in both her library and the dcor of her every home and office. In addition to her dedication to Hendrix and local education, Shirley worked tirelessly in the community. She served as a director for the Community Concert Association and was one of the first directors for the then-fledgling Prescott Fine Arts Association. She was county chairman for the Camp Fire Girls, helped co-ordinate Yavapai County Volunteer Search and Rescue, and held seats on the boards of the Yavapai County Youth Center, Yavapai County Fair Association, and Friends of the Library. For a number of years she chaired a task force of the Arizona Speech and Drama Association.In 1985 Shirley went to work part-time for the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, operating their first Bingo Hall near Sundog Ranch Road. Soon after her retirement from the school system, she devoted all her working hours to aiding the tribe in establishing their now-successful gaming operations. Twenty-six years later--at the age of 83--Shirley was proud to still be working fulltime as manager of the Gold Rush Club for Yavapai Gaming. The associates, staff, and patrons at Bucky's and Yavapai were her second family, one with whom she was ever delighted to share even Thanksgiving Days and Christmas Eves. Although a heartbreaking battle with cancer finally slowed Shirley down, the care and devotion shown by management, colleagues, and friends at work--and by the governing board of the Yavapai-Prescott Tribe--were much of what kept her going strong, bringing joy and purpose to her last months with us.Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and an infant grandson, Daniel Christopher Wolfe. She is survived by her older brother Darrel Alfred Bell and sister-in-law (and lifelong best friend) Catherine of Aztec, New Mexico, and younger sister Dr. Janet Sue Perry of Tempe, Arizona. Her children are Kerry Lynn (Wolfe) and Gary Scott Blair of Dewey, Arizona, and Gregory Dean and Christine Ann (Pirkey) Wolfe of Mesa, Arizona. Although a nephew by birth, Steven Donald Waters of Tempe, Arizona was a second son who was also with Shirley near the time of her passing. Shirley's surviving grandchildren are Gary Scott Blair, Jr., Jacob Gregory Blair, Matthew Joseph Blair, Hilary Lynn Blair, Brandon Gregory Wolfe, Caitlyn Mae Wolfe, and Megan Elizabeth Wolfe. Steve and Georgia's children are Amanda, Kyle, and Eric Waters.

Service:
A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, October 20 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7885 Long Look Drive in Prescott Valley. Because Shirley is most appropriately remembered for her selfless service and boundless generosity, the family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Prescott Food Bank, Yavapai Humane Society, or other charities of the donor\'s choice. Interment will be conducted privately in Prescott at a later date.