Shirley Ann Creighton

Shirley Ann Olson Redemer Creighton 1928-2025 Shirley was born June 28, 1928 to Lawrence and Clementine Francis Olson in the Kingsburg Sanitarium in Kingsburg, California. She grew up on a small 45 acre farm on South Del Rey Avenue four and a half miles southwest of her beloved town. As a young woman Shirley was an avid equestrian and went on a cattle drive as a 13 year old from Kingsburg out past Laton with a girlfriend and some local cowboys. Later in life she acquired a passion for nice clothes and helped define the term "clothes horse" given her previous equestrian skills. Graduating from Kingsburg schools she was a member of the Kingsburg High School Class of 1946 of which she is one of the last surviving members. Upon graduation Shirley became engaged to Dean W. Redemer, a handsome young former Marine upon his return from the Pacific Theater at the end of WW2. The two were married at Shirley's aunt and uncle's house in Santa Cruz on March 28, 1947 and settled into a small home on Nevada Street in Kingsburg. There, their family grew with the birth of two sons, Michael Daren (1949) and Mitchel Lawrence (1954). Dean and Shirley attended worship services at the United Methodist Church early on and raised their sons to be regular attendees of both church and Sunday school. Later Dean and Shirley were active choir members in a Kingsburg Community Church which was well known for its musical talent. Shirley and Dean built a new home and moved next door to Shirley's parents on South Del Rey avenue in 1958. Dean worked with his father-in-law on the farm and continued his career as a rural U.S. mail carrier. Shirley secured a position working as a clerk in the Kingsburg City Hall in the early 1960's a job she enjoyed as she got to interact with many of the citizens of her community. Dean and Shirley enjoyed attending dances at the Skeleton Club in the 1950's and the Kingsburg Gun Club in the 1960's through 1990's. Shirley was a gracious hostess frequently entertaining friends and family at her home. In 1994 Dean and Shirley moved from the Del Rey farm into the town of Kingsburg. There they continued to host friends and family and spent time traveling with friends. In 2001 Dean passed away after a prolonged illness and in 2005 Shirley married Jack Creighton, a prominent businessman in Kingsburg. They were happily married until Jack's passing in 2017. Given her developing physical infirmities Shirley moved to an assisted living facility in Danville, California to be close to her oldest son, Michael, and his family. She dearly missed her beloved Kingsburg, her church and the lifelong friends she had made but she resiliently made new ones in Danville. Shirley got to live near her son Michael and his wife Margaret, their two sons and daughters-in-law, Justin and Julia Redemer (Hayward) and Colin and Cheryl Redemer (Oakland). She attended frequent family dinners and visits from her eight great grandchildren, Elijah (17) Caleb (15). Leif (12), Joshua (12), Hannah (10), Felicity (9), Avila (7) and Selah (2). She also enjoyed visits from her son Mitchel and his wife Joan Redemer of Antwerp, Belgium and their daughters Claire (Lake Tahoe) and Leigh and her husband Kamil Nguyen Van (Hanoi). Shirley went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on May 1, 2025, and is reunited with her family members and Kingsburg friends who have gone on before her after living a beautiful 96+ years. She will be missed by all who knew her. A service will be held in her memory on Saturday May 10, 2025 at 11 AM at the Kingsburg Community Church 1532 Ellis Street, Kingsburg CA 93631 Donations may be made in Shirley's memory to the Kingsburg Community Church, 1532 Ellis Street, Kingsburg, CA 93631. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Creighton Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Shirley Ann Creighton

June 28, 1928 - May 1, 2025