Shirley Ruth (Wells) King

Shirley Ruth Wells King
1935-2016  

On February 13th 1935 the world became a better place with the birth of Shirley Ruth Wells.  She was born in Warsaw, NY and was greeted by her Mother, Edith  and Father; Earl Wells. Eagerly awaiting her arrival was her sister Betty.  The two girls were minus one day away from a year apart, with Betty’s birthday the very next day on the 14th. The family lived through the Great Depression and WWII, the girls gathered books for the soldiers and maintained a Victory Garden. Farm life was filled with fun and long days with chores and school. 

In 1949 the family moved to Albany, New York with their Dad,  Edward Huber.  A year later the family moved to their farm, Edenwald in Voorheesville NY.   Shirley began her Junior year at Voorheesville High School.  After graduating, Shirley was thrilled to marry her first love, Irwin H. King in 1954, and gave birth to their firstborn, a son in 1955.   

Having birthdays close together is just one thing Shirley and her sister Betty share, they had children close together and quite a few of them. They also had a delightful surprise meet them shortly after the birth of their own first babies; a new baby sister, Margie a beautiful baby girl who gave great joy to her Mother and Father at Edenwald.  More sisters and brothers were added to the Huber family, though not little babies, they were welcomed and loved, Sue, Eugene and Ralph.  For Shirley and her sister Betty, babies and lots of children were a theme in their busy lives. Eventually having 6 children each.   

Years later, Shirley and Irwin, along with their children moved to Knox, NY where they managed a farm and a Maple Syrup business and raised their six children.  Some of Shirley’s fondest memories were when the school children came to the farm for field trips on buses to tour the sap house they would eat “sugar on snow” and were greeted by the family dogs, Moxie and Shep. She made a highly sought after Maple Cream in the kitchen, burning several blender motors out in the process. Animals were also a theme, there were horses, cows and pigs and family pets.  She was surrounded by everything she loved and was very happy at the farm.  

Whenever you stepped into the kitchen you would find Shirley cooking something. She worked hard at finding ways to stretch a menu to feed a family of eight.  She liked to make creative dishes and always had a recipe she wanted to try.  Some of her favorites and her family’s were; her famous Noodle Pleaser, Potato Salad, Swedish Meatballs, Bread Pudding, Sticky Plum Ribs, Chocolate Decadent Cake made special for birthdays and baked beans with maple syrup all made with hefty doses of love.  Every day began with a cup of coffee. Shirley loved her coffee.  

In 1975 Shirley and the children moved to Port Orange, FL where they were near her parents and sisters Betty and Marge.  Reading books, making quilts and seeing her children and grandchildren kept her busy and happy. Through the years she enjoyed every moment she had with visits from all of her children, her 18 Grandchildren, 17 Great-Grandchildren and probably already knows who the 2 babies on the way are (she always liked to be in the know!)   She loved being a homemaker, feeding the birds and taking care of many cats and kittens through the years. Shirley was a fan of the Food Network show, Animal Planet and Survivor, she also has a long list of authors she enjoyed, and was  surrounded by books.  Always learning, always sharing, always loving and caring.  

If you asked Shirley what her proudest accomplishment in life was she would give one answer with six distinct accomplishments; her children.  Beginning with her firstborn son, Jeffrey, then Linda, Lori, Irwin, and two more girls, Leah and Allison. She loved them unconditionally, was proud of them and left them with the knowledge that they were loved deeply and cherished beyond infinity. 

She left these words of comfort to her children and loved ones: “we cannot see beyond…But this I know, I loved you so, ‘twas heaven here with you!” (credit to author Isla Richardson)