Shirley L. Beamer

Shirley L. Beamer, 84, a longtime Sun City resident, author and artist, passed away on January 22, 2018, after a long struggle with COPD. Shirley was born on October 7, 1933 in Minneapolis, MN. She had a long and interesting life, including honorably serving in the medical field with the U.S. Women's Army Corps (1952-54), after which she embarked on many varied occupations. From 1959 to 1962 she lived in Valley City, ND, where she and a friend, Phyllis Myhre, opened The Pavilion Art Shop to serve the local college. From 1962 to 1964 Shirley worked as the women's editor of the local newspaper, and from 1964 to 1966 held various positions with the local KOVC Radio Station, including program designer of a Sunday morning children's story time hour.In 1966 Shirley moved to Denver, CO, where she worked as a psychotherapist at Fort Logan Mental Health Center. In 1978 she sustained a severe back injury there from an out-of-control patient, causing a permanent disability and forced medical retirement. She and her fellow co-worker and soul mate, Carole Baldwin, along with Phyllis Myhre, already seasoned world travelers, continued their travel adventures together, often participating in archeological digs. Shirley worked as an administrative assistant to the owner of Ports of Call Travel Club in Denver until 1981. For a brief time in 1981-82, she worked as the manager of Diamond Shamrock convenience store/gas station. From 1982 to 1986, Shirley, Phyllis, and Carole became owners of two Big Olaf Ice Cream Shops, one in Denver and another in Englewood, CO. Shirley then returned to Ports of Call Travel Club as office manager of a substation office in Sun City, where the three friends bought a house together.In 1988, always the giver, Shirley began a loving caregiver role to her two housemates, Phyllis, who developed Alzheimers, and Carole, who developed cancer, while dealing with her own symptoms of COPD. In 2004 Phyllis's family assumed care and brought her to Montana. On 9/1/2009 Shirley came home to find Carole had died suddenly. As devastating as that was for her, Shirley then took on the role of caregiver for Carole's ailing mother and brother - both of whom have since passed. Shirley herself was briefly hospitalized in 2013 with severe COPD and deteriorating complications from the back injury and fibromyalgia.Shirley was predeceased by her parents, George and Viola Beamer of Minneapolis, and her older sister Lois Johnson and her husband, Logan, of Green Valley, AZ.She is survived by her brother Richard (Dick) Beamer, and brother-in-law David McAllister, of Minden, NV, and nieces and nephews Gregory Beamer, Mankato, MN; Karen Kersten, Isanti, MN; Barbara Peppersack, Chanhassen, MN; Bruce Johnson, Fargo, ND; and Kirk Johnson, Edina, MN; and her dog Raggs.Shirley requested no funeral or memorial service. Being the people and animal lover that she was, she suggested donations in her memory to any health-related charity of the donor's choice, or to an animal rescue service.