Shirley Pilch

Shirley May (Spencer) Pilch, 91, of Evanston, Wyoming, passed away in her home on Tuesday, November 4th of causes incident to age, with her husband Albert by her side.

Shirley was born on May 2nd, 1923 in Evanston, Wyoming to Laura Minerva Deming of Coalville, UT and Clifford Lorenzo Spencer of Randolph, UT.  She grew up in Evanston with her younger brother, Glen Clifford, in their home on 6th and Sage.  Shirley was an exceptional student and actually skipped one grade of elementary school because of it.  Shirley and her lifelong friend, Eunice Kearns, attended the University of Wyoming together after graduating from Evanston High School.  While in college, WWII raged.  Eventually, nearly every able bodied college male was off to war, leaving Laramie looking like a girls school.  With the eligible bachelors gone from college, Shirley and Eunice decided to head off to San Francisco to work.  They remained there through the end of the war and then returned to Evanston.

Back in Evanston, Shirley met her eventual husband, Albert Pilch, who was working for the telephone company in the area.  They were married at the family home on Sage Street on June 18th, 1948.  Albert went to work for his father-in-law in the family business as a car salesman at the Lincoln Service.  In 1952 the couple experienced the tragedy of a stillborn daughter.  Later, two sons entered the family and the couple raised them in their home on Morse Lee Street, Shirley working as a full time mom.  As the need arose she also worked as a bookkeeper at Lincoln Service to help pay for family expenses.  Shirley and Al developed close friends over the years, too numerous to count, through participation in many activities such as Jaycees, Lions Club, Labor Day Rodeo, the Wyoming Recreation Commission, bowling and golf leagues, bridge club, and the Evanston Study Club.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Albert John Pilch, of Evanston; two sons, Spencer (Ellen) and Scott (Carrie) of Evanston; seven grandchildren, Brian of Evanston; Jason (Sarah) of Eagle Mountain, UT;  Allison (Derek) Hoopes of Evanston; Jessamyn (Andrew) Klinker of Falmouth, ME; Caitlin (Seth) Marosok of Grand Rapids, MI; Taylor (Seth) Harris of Provo, UT; Hanna of Evanston; and five great-grandchildren, Dylan, Cooper, Lily, Max and Mira.

She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Cliff and Venice Spencer; her brother Glen and sister-in-law Ruth.

A memorial service to pay tribute to Shirley will be scheduled at a future time.  The family would like to thank the nurses at Uinta Home Health and members and friends of the Evanston 6th Ward for their care, kindness, and friendships during the last few months and years.

Shirley loved the story about the woman who wanted to be buried with a fork in her hand.  The woman said, "All my life I have gone to so many dinners and potlucks, for various events.  When the main course was over and they came to clear the table, inevitably someone would lean over and say to me, 'Keep your fork.'  I knew there was something better coming.  It might be a velvety chocolate cake; it might be Dutch oven apple pie.  I knew it would be wonderful, and that it would be of substance."  So she made a request, "I want to be laid out in my casket at the viewing with a fork in my hand, because I want people to come by and look, and wonder, 'What’s with the fork?'  And, when anyone asks about the fork, tell them, "Keep your fork because the best is yet to come."

Shirley wanted a fork too.  She was as devoted wife and mother who always put others needs ahead of her own.  She will be missed.

In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place.  A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
Online condolences may be given at crandallfhevanston.com