I am a long-time friend of Anne's and Rich's and grew to know and appreciate Shirley and Chuck through the years. After Chuck's passing, I reached out to Shirley and we started having afternoon tea at her house every 3 months or so. Interesting that others had a similar experience. What was humorous about our tea gatherings was that Shirley thought she was helping me as I missed my mother after her passing in 2009 (I learned from Anne), and I thought I was helping Shirley as she missed her Chuck. Regardless, likely we both benefited...I know I did. Like others, I enjoyed hearing about Shirley's stories of her early life, meeting and marrying Chuck, her children and her many adventures living throughout Asia. When Shirley moved to Bellingham, her neighbor Polly and I drove to visit her about every 6 weeks. As time passed, we started to make a party of it with colorful napkins, treats and flowers and/or a cheery holiday gift for that season. Ann would make the coffee. We enjoyed those visits fully. And I have Shirley to thank for befriending another very interesting and kind woman named Polly. Shirley had a way of expressing her care for you and interest in your life in addition to sharing her stories. Shirley and my mother are my two role models for how to age gracefully while continuing to live life fully. Shirley's positive, caring spirit will always stay with me.