Shirley Jane (Drake) Palsgrove, age 91, of Troy, OH passed away on January 25, 2022 at her residence.  She was born on September 1, 1930 in Christiansburg, OH to the late Hugh and Gladys (Curtis) Drake.  Shirley loved her parents and adored her brother Sherman Drake.  Shirley fell in love with James Lee Palsgrove (Jim) in 1954, and they were married and celebrated 60 years together.  Jim preceded her in death in 2014.

Shirley is survived by her daughter and son-in-law:  Marcy and (Tony) Younce of Troy; and her son and daughter-in-law:  Thomas and (Rebecca) Palsgrove of Troy; three grandsons: Mark (Stephanie) Younce, Brian (Crystal) Younce, and Chad (Amy) Palsgrove; seven great grandchildren: Abby, Natalie, Breanne, Madison, Emma, Isaiah and Anna; additional grandchildren: Jacy, Jena, Haley, Maddie, Andru and Alyssa; and three great-great grandchildren: Eli, Henry and Lavee.

Shirley loved life!  She always told the best stories about growing up in the good old days, living in the country with fields and barns and old houses.  She told us about the hard times during the depression but yet her eyes always filled with love for the old days.  Her stories were real and we felt like she took us there with her.  The country was always in her heart.  She loved telling funny stories and making people laugh.  She graduated from Staunton School in 1948 and loved her Staunton friends all the days of her life, and her neighbors and friends who were like angels.

Shirley loved being a homemaker and mother and she devoted her life to making her house a home.  She was a wonderful cook and she made her meals and holidays with the family so special around the table.  We will always remember her traditions, and pecan pie, and how she played the piano and loved watching old movies.

Shirley was employed in her younger years, working in the print shop at Hobart Manufacturing, and as a secretary at WPAFB and Gum Products, then as a bookkeeper for her brother who was an accountant.  She enjoyed family vacations, a spectacular train ride from Troy to California, and she enjoyed taking nature walks and loved to go fishing with Jim.  Shirley and Jim were members of the Korean War Veterans Association and visited the patients at the VA Hospital.  Shirley was a Sunday school teacher and secretary at the Troy Church of the Brethren, and later she and Jim became members of Troy Baptist Temple.  Shirley had so many life-long friends, and you all know who you are because you feel her love in your heart.

Most of all, she loved Jesus, and Heaven is her home now.   Through the gospel and grace from God, her faith was in Jesus Christ, He became her Savior in 1951.  She was so thankful for her salvation.  Shirley was faithful on her journey on earth, she prayed for us, read her Bible, and her strength was in Jesus, His light shined brightly in her.  She found so much joy in sharing Him with others, so we can all be together again someday.

Private Services will be held with her family at the Baird Funeral Home, in Troy, with Pastor David Thomasson officiating. The family encourages those attending to wear masks.  Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Troy.

Memorial contributions may be made to Ohio's Hospice of Miami County, 3230 N. County Road 25A, Troy, OH 45373.  Friends may express condolences to the family through www.bairdfuneralhome.com.

Ohio's Hospice of Miami County
3230 N. County Road 25A, Troy OH 45373
Web: https://hospiceofmiamicounty.org