Shirley M. Frayer

Shirley Marguerite Frayer (nee Erickson) born 03/21/1939 was peacefully united with heaven on Thursday 07/27/2006 at 7:50 p.m. at St. Joseph's hospital in Atlanta, GA.

Shirley had been fighting a war with COPD for several years, in the last few weeks her body growing weaker. Always one to keep a smile on her face, and a laugh in her heart, she was however ready to "win" the battle. When she went to bed on Tuesday night, she simply did not wake up, she did not experience any pain, she did not suffer.

Throughout her life, Shirley was always the first to offer a hand to a friend in need-whether that meant a place to say, an errand to be run, or just companionship, Shirley was always there for the many that needed and loved her.

An exceptional working mother, Shirley was able to raise 3 children while working part-time (when they were small) as a transcriptionist/proofreader for a Cincinnati printing corporation. When her children were old enough, she went to work for the University of Cincinnati College Of Medicine and held a variety of important positions there. She assisted in the preparation and ultimately the approval of many governmental grants thus providing funding for medical research and clinical procedures. During this time (1974-1987) she also obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in 1983, subsequently her Master of Public Affairs in 1986.

Although divorced in 1980, and working full-time at the University, Shirley was also a relief dispatcher at the Lebanon Police Department from 1983-1987. Deciding that she needed a break from the bureaucratic world, she took up her love of driving in 1987 and began working as an over the road truck driver for a number of firms. In 1989 when her mother became ill, Shirley returned to Montana to care for her until her death in 1990. While setting her mother's estate in 1991, she was a house mother at the Grand Avenue Home in Bigfork, Montana (a home for pregnant teenage girls whose families had disregarded them). She went back to truck driving for a short period after that, however with other family members in Montana aging and requiring assistance, Shirley decided to hang up her keys and stick close to home to help them. She took a position as a dispatcher and 911 operator at the Kalispell Police Department from 1991 until she retired in 2003.

Even though "retired" from 2003-2004 Shirley was a pharmacy advocate with the Touch Of Grace Clinic (a division of the Salvation Army), and helped hundreds of patients obtain much needed medication. She adored working with others and helping them cut through the red tape that she herself knew so very well, subsequently allowing many, many people the ability to live full happy lives.

After suffering a heart attack in May 2004, she and her children decided it would be better for her to live closer to them in Atlanta, GA. She moved to Atlanta in August 2004, and happily remained there until her death. Although she was surrounded by loving friends/neighbors it was the ability to see her "growing" family constantly that provided her the most joy. She was able to play and see her new grandchildren and great niece every week, even though she was far away from the love of her life-Montanta.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rudy and Missy Erickson, and loving brother Richard R. Erickson. She is survived by her 3 children and their families: Eric R. Frayer, wife Amy, children Lane and Sam (Cincinnati, OH); Christina M. Belding-Shuman, husband Dan, children Jennifer and Rachael (Alpharetta, GA); Evan L. Frayer, wife Liz, child Paul (Atlanta, GA). Other close family include (but is not limited to) her sister Lucy Weir of Florence, Oregon, cousins Jim Lucey of Las Vegas, Peggy Shone and Rick Lucey of Butte, nieces/nephews Kimberly Arnett of Atlanta, Geoffrey Erickson and Rob Erickson of Connecticut, Stuart and Gretchen Weir of Oregon, Julie and John Ward of Montana and sister in law Cindy Erickson of North Carolina, and a multitude of friends and co-workers.

At her request, no visitation or funeral services will be held at this time. A small private gathering of family and close friends and scattering of ashes will be coordinated in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice-Atlanta, the Salvation Army, or Grand Avenue Home are recommended.