Shirley Kenyon

Shirley A. Kenyon, 70, of Oxford, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Thursday, March 13, 2014 at her home.

In McDonough, on August 25, 1962, Shirley married James F. Kenyon, who survives. She is also survived by her daughter, Kimberly R. Smith (Mark), a granddaughter, Erica S. Abbott (Nate) and a grandson, James D. Smith, all of Norwich. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Shirley was predeceased by her four brothers, Keith, William, Homer and Clarence Jr., Smith as well as a sister, June (Smith) Jensen.

Born in Norwich on April 1, 1943, Shirley was the daughter of Clarence and Ruth (Nightengale) Smith. After graduating from Oxford Academy in 1962, she began her career with several jobs, including the former M.H. Fishman’s, Tastee Freeze and W. T. Grant’s stores in Norwich. With her husband, Shirley operated a small farm on the Georgetown Road in Preston. Always up for a challenge, Shirley and Jim then bought the Bill and Lena Fitzgerald farm on Scouten Hill Road in Oxford, where they built a barn and ran a dairy farm until 1986, when they sold the farm to establish their own business, L & H Window Erectors. They ran this business until 2001, when they sold it to retire and build their present home on Kilroy Road in Oxford.

Shirley enjoyed spending her winters at their Florida home watching the dolphins off the lanai, but always looked forward to spring and coming home to Oxford and her family. Spring found Shirley planting flowers, summers were for picking berries, making pies, and having the well-known neighborhood July Picnic. If you ever stopped at Shirley's house, you always got a cup of coffee and home-baked treat. She bowled for many years and often traveled to compete in bowling tournaments. The light of her life were her grandchildren and she helped raise them to be the great people they are. In later years, there was seldom a time that, as she sat with family, there was not a grand-dog on her lap. Shirley was a kind, giving person who was always looking to give a hand to those who were having a hard time.

A Celebration of Shirley's life will be held at the Oxford Fire Department on Saturday, March 29th from 2pm to 5pm. Please stop by with a story or a thought about Shirley.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Chenango County for their support. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to Hospice of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815 or to the Oxford Fire Department, 20 Main St., Oxford, NY 13830.