Shirley Mae Howson Jenkins, age 92, of Savoy, Illinois, passed away peacefully November 27, 2018. Shirley was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. After receiving her bachelor's degree in biology in Arizona, she moved to Berkeley and began working as a laboratory technician. In her spare time, she attended ballroom dance classes, where she met her husband Fred, who was completing his doctorate in French at the University of California. After living in San Diego for a few years and starting a family, they moved to Urbana, Illinois where Fred began teaching French at the University of Illinois, and Shirley concentrated on raising their two daughters, Diane and Nancy.

After Fred's retirement in 1997, Fred and Shirley traveled frequently to France, Great Britain, Germany, and their beloved state of California. Shirley was a voracious reader, passionate painter of landscapes and still life, and excellent cook. She also loved to sew, manage the family finances, and research family history. She produced several hardbound copies of both her's and Fred's family trees dating back to the early 1700s.

Shirley had a lifelong love of cats and dogs, and spent many years volunteering at the Champaign County Humane Society. She was also a longtime member of the Women's Friendship Club.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Fred and daughter Diane. She is survived by her daughter Nancy (Knut) Bauer, sister Virginia Howson Norheim (SPHS '43); three grandsons, three great-grandsons; and many nieces and nephews.

Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 2018