Shirley S. Searl

LUDLOW — Shirley S. Searl, 85, passed away Sunday, January, 20, 2013, at the Gill Odd Fellows Home in Ludlow, Vt.

She was one of three daughters, Esther, Shirley and Elizabeth, born to Floyd and Olive Warren, both now deceased, of Grahamsville, Vt., and married Stewart B. Searl, also now deceased, of Ludlow June 12, 1948. Her sister, Elizabeth Winot of Rutland, Vt., also preceded her in death.

She is survived by her son, Barry Searl and his wife, Connie, of Franklin, N.H., their three children, Lindsay, Briana and Grayson Searl, also of Franklin; by her daughter, Sandra Searl Griffin and her husband, Glenn, both of Silver City, N.M.; by her sister, Esther Stomper of Rutland, her niece, Brenda Lerman, and nephew Stanley Bruce Stomper, both of Rutland, niece Laure Howell of Imperial Beach, Calif.; and by her devoted cousin, Linda Kingsbury of Ludlow, among other cousins.

As a teen at Black River High School and in the early years of her marriage, she and her husband were reputed to be great dancers. She worked for a number of years in the cafeteria at the Okemo Mountain ski area and, later, worked for 10 years at GE’s Rutland branch. She had little tolerance for those she perceived as being dishonest or pretentious and was known for her sometimes acerbic humor. Mrs. Searl was passionate about plants, flowers, particularly her African violets, and all animals, especially her own pet dog and cat, Cody and Pumpkin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gill Odd Fellows Home, 8 Gill Terrace, Ludlow, VT 05149.