Shirley Lou Szemere

With grieving hearts, the Szemere family sadly announces that Shirley Szemere, wife of 60 yrs to husband Frank, passed away after an extended illness.  “Shirl” was born on Dec 24 1921 and grew up in Dayton, Ohio, amid a large Weprin family.  She attended Riverview HS & graduated from Stevens College with a degree in Fashion Design. For several yrs she worked at an exclusive womens wear shop in Dayton that catered to the elite. She met Frank at a young adult group meeting in 1953 while he was attending the AF Institute of Technology.  Frank graduated in 1954 and was assigned to a Base in England. They kept in contact and upon his return in 1957, they married in Miami Beach, danced to the music of Charlie Spivaks band and immediately left for Flight School in Marianna Fl.  While earning his wings at Reese AFB, "Shirl" gave birth to twin girls named Sharon & Virginia.  The family accompanied Frank to Homestead AFB, where daughter Lawry was born & Otis AFB where son Ben was born.  After Frank's tour in Vietnam, the family flew to Hawaii for 3 yrs in Aloha land. Next stop was at Eglin AFB where Frank retired in Jan 79.  All her children went to Pryor Middle School and Choctaw HS, where they were very active in the band. Shirley was a very involved member of Choctaw Band Parents Assoc.  Her contributions & work with the Cancer Society were many & continuous. For many years she was a member of the Xi Eta Kappa Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority. Amid all this Shirl operated a successful ceramics business for 7 years. Throughout her life, she was an avid seamstress for her children and friends. 

Survivors include her husband; children, Sharon, Lawry and Ben; 6 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter and her extended family of John Timm, Glyn Sorensen (Lawrys husband) and Ben’s wife Jennifer Szemere.!  Undoubtedly, "these are times that try men's souls. We will miss her, all the days of our lives”.  A Celebration of Life is planned for the near future.  In her memory please support Hospice of the Emerald Coast and the Cancer Society with a donation.

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