April 23, 1929 - December 14, 2022

Shirley Ilene Botham, 93, of Jacksonville, Oregon passed away on December 14, 2022. She was a resident at Pioneer Village for 8 months, and previously lived for 20 years in the Royal Mobile Estates Park. Shirley (Ivany) was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on April 23, 1929, the youngest of five children. She came of age at the height of the depression. Her two brothers went off to fight in World War II, and Shirley and her two older sisters left school to help the family.

At the end of the War, the soldiers came home and Shirley was soon introduced to her handsome veteran, Harry Botham, on a blind date. Harry was smitten and courted Shirley for two years before he could marry his beautiful young bride.  

The couple built a home in Vancouver B.C. near her family and before long their 3 children: Leslie, Arlene, and Martin were born which made for a full house. Harry believed that the U. S. could provide a better life for his family, so he accepted a job in the States. The family first moved to Washington, and then on to San Mateo, California where they prospered as U.S. citizens.

Their first child, Leslie, finished his degree at the University of California at Berkeley, CA. and went on to become a water engineer. Their second child, Arlene, finished her degrees at Sonoma State University, CA. and Southern Oregon University and became a music teacher. Shirley and Harry moved to Colorado to obtain better job opportunities. Their third child, Martin, attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, and became the co-owner with his wife, Mary, of the Princeton Seafood Company restaurant in Half Moon Bay, CA.

Ever industrious, Shirley went back to school, after raising her family and working at several jobs, and passed her GED High School General Educational Development test in Colorado. She loved learning and went on to take many college classes that interested her in Colorado, California, and Oregon.

Shirley was an excellent chef and caterer and loved to entertain. She and Harry even had their own restaurant and gas station business in Nehalem, Oregon called The Hungry Whale. Shirley and Harry also worked with Marty and Mary at the Princeton Seafood Company restaurant for 5 years. At the restaurant, Marty cooked 125 gallons a week of his Mom’s award winning clam chowder!

Shirley was also a very talented artist whose paintings won first place ribbons in the Mendocino County Fair, hung in the Savings Bank of Mendocino in Ukiah, CA. and were sold, and shared with her family members.  

Shirley and Harry managed to weather their fair share of life’s ups and downs. They lived together to see 60 years of wedded bliss. They especially enjoyed traveling in the United States and Canada in their RV. 

Harry passed away in October 2007. Shirley’s dear husband was gone, and she deeply missed him. But she spent the next 15 years fully engaged with her family members, and neighbors in Jacksonville, sharing her hospitality, good sense of humor, and joy of life with many in her 55+ community.

Shirley will be fondly remembered by many friends and family. She is survived by her 3 children, 6 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. Shirley and Harry’s ashes will be buried in the Historic Jacksonville Cemetery.