Obituary of Shirleyjean Gilbert

Shirley Gilbert was a world traveler at a young age. Born in Canada, by the time she was 7 years old had lived in Canada, Indonesia, the Colony of Aden, Cuba and the U.S., as her father was in the diplomatic corps.  They settled in Pasadena, CA and after a tragic car accident that killed her mother, the family moved to Ord Bend to her grandfather’s ranch when Shirley was in the 5th grade.  In school Shirley was noted for her intelligence and skipped two grades. She graduated from Hamilton Union High School in Hamilton City before attending Chico State College, now CSUC. She not only graduated with an Education major, she pledged to Pi Kappa Sigma “Sigma Kappa” for her entire college career and met her husband of 63 years, Clifford “Blackie” Gilbert. Following graduation and marriage Shirley taught 2nd grade at Dixon Elementary only to retire early to start their family giving birth to her three daughters over the next 5 years. Shirley was a Camp Fire Girls Leader for years, volunteered at Neighborhood Church’s Print Shop, Butte County Library, Chico Branch in the children’s section and served on the corporation board of Sigma Kappa for over 15 years. Shirley participated in the River Rats Club of Ord Bend with gatherings for lunch and/or coffee to enjoy and relive her experiences with others who grew up in the Ord Bend area.  

Never too busy for friends or family, be it her daughters, nieces, nephews or grandchildren, encouraging creativity, pouring out never ending love, giving of her time to listen to others, never judgmental, always trustworthy, caring and empathic, she has been called a “saint” by various family members. She would tell stories of how when she was little, her father would drive into Chico and drop off her and her siblings at 1 mile to go shopping for supplies. She and her siblings, unattended, would play in the park for the entire day. Swinging like Tarzan from the wild grape vines, climbing trees, searching for pollywogs and swimming in 1 mile. As a mom and Grandma, she made rainy days' fun by pulling out big sheets of butcher paper and mixing up paints for her little artists to finger paint the day away.  An avid reader she read books aloud to her daughters and grandson’s taking them on story adventures around the world, imparting her love of reading to all. Shirley loved planning holidays, birthdays and anniversary celebrations with her daughters, enjoying gardening, camping, snow skiing, fishing trips, hiking in the forests, and just life in general.   

Shirley passed away in August at the age of 90 years old and is survived by her brother Tom Fox of Pennsylvania, her sister Ann Jeffries of Chico, their families and her three daughters, Marcie, Lynn and Stacy, their husbands; Ed Frydel, Drew Liston and grandson’s Jarreau Gilbert of Chico, Chase Frydel of Rancho Cordova, CA and Brian Whitley “adopted” family member of Chico.  Shirley’s memorial service will be held on October 2nd at 1:00pm at Glen Oaks Memorial Park at the Veterans Court of Honor.  Donations are appreciated in Shirley’s name to Chico Friends of the Library in care of Brusie Funeral Home or online at  http://www.chicolibrary.org/memorial-donation/