Shirley May Gauthier

 

Shirley May Gauthier was born on January 3, 1937 in Mattoon, Illinois.  She went home to be with the Lord on October 14, 2023.

After graduating from high school, Shirl attended Michael Reese Nursing School in Chicago. While working at a Chicago hospital, she had a patient who introduced her to his son David.  They married in 1959. 

After several transitions, David and Shirl moved to Utah where she pursued her career as an RN.  Over the course of her 50 year nursing career she would serve people as a hospital nurse, director of the Tooele County Women’s, Infant’s, and Children’s program, a state regulator for medical facilities, a home health nurse, and finally as a home health hospice nurse.  Each of these roles flowed out of her strong desire to help others. 

Along her journey she found the deepest and most meaningful relationship in her life to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He became the source of her life, the power for her  personal transformation, and the core message she shared with others. Jesus’ love for her  was her motivation for loving others.  This led she and David to join the ministry of Cru for several years where, together, they helped others know how to have a relationship with God and experience spiritual growth in their lives. She really loved people and enjoyed serving others whether through  helping meet their spiritual needs or helping step in and provide some informal “nursing” care as the opportunity arose. 

Shirl and David were married for 62 years.  She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother and is survived by Mark (Kristi) Gauthier and Kathy (Jeff) Banks, 7 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren.  She lived a life of purpose and love and will be deeply missed. 

A Celebration of Life service will be held at First Orlando in Henry Chapel at 10:30 am on Saturday, November 4.  A lunch reception will follow.  In lieu of flowers please make any donations to First Orlando.