Friday, November 10, 2017

Shirley Gautreaux Passes At Age 69


Shirley A Gautreaux, wife of longtime Dorchester High School educator and principal Terry Gautreaux, passed on Nov. 8, 2017, as a result of complications from a stroke at Warren Memorial Hospital in Friend at the age of 69 years, 4 months and 21 days. 

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, at Friend Public School's East Gym officiated by Rev. Brian Tuma. Interment will be in Andrew Cemetery. Visitation is from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday and 2-9 p.m. Tuesday, with the family greeting relatives and friends from 6-8 p.m. at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Friend.   Memorial Donations are suggested to: LCMS Mission Central, Friend School Scholarship Fund or Warren Memorial Hospital.

Shirley Ann Gautreaux, was born June 18, 1948 in Tecumseh, Nebraska, to Gerald “Jerry W. and Mildred M. (Bartels) Rinne, the oldest of three children.  As a young girl she attended school in several locations as she moved with her parents. Shirley graduated from Gering High School in 1966 and later attended the University of Nebraska. She graduated in 1970 with a degree in German and Education. While at the University of Nebraska, Shirley met Terrence “Terry” Michael Gautreaux of Chalmette, Louisiana. Shirley and Terry were married on June 7, 1970 in Gering, Nebraska and to this union three sons were born, Keith, Jeffrey and Elliott.

Shirley began her teaching career in 1972 in Waukegan, IL. She started teaching at Friend Public School in 1973 and, having found the perfect small town, never left. She taught at Friend until her retirement in 2013 after 40 years of dedication to students, parents, and the school district. She spent most of her life, youth and adult, in school as a student or a teacher.  She was an encouraging mother and teacher, loving her sons, and especially her grandchildren who were the highlight of her life. Shirley especially enjoyed the many trips she took to spend time with her grandchildren after her retirement as a teacher.

Shirley’s life was dedicated to her family, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cordova, and Friend Public School. She was “Mrs. G” to thousands of students from Friend. She taught Geography, Social Studies, Speech, English, and German at Friend. She drove the school bus, coached Speech, directed one-act plays, coached junior high track, kept statistics for the football team, and organized school events too numerous to mention. Shirley taught Sunday School and was a constant presence at the church for Bible study, potlucks, weddings and funerals. Shirley was always thinking of those in need of prayer, assistance, or, her special lasagna.
     
In 2004, Shirley was honored as Friend’s Citizen of the Year. This award recognized the significant impact she made on Friend and its residents. Shirley exemplified what it meant to be a citizen and always was proud to call Friend her hometown. After Shirley retired from teaching, she became even more active in her community as she became a member of the Friend Rotary Club, and was an active helper with the Friend Historical Society.  Even after she retired from teaching, Shirley remained a fixture at Friend Public School, as a substitute teacher and driving the bus for extracurriculars, as well as attending many sporting events and activities. 
     
For the full obituary and to leave your condolences to the family, click here.

2 comments:

  1. I hope to see many alumni, students & faculty, at the funeral. Let's show Mr. G what true Longhorn support is all about. It doesn't end when you leave the halls of DHS. It continues for a lifetime. He was there to guide & support us, now it's time we do the same for him.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Our family thanks you for kind words and thoughts.

    ReplyDelete

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