Shirley Alice (Roop) Werner
Shirley Alice Werner, née Roop, loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, friend, and teacher went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in the loving community at Aviva Wellspring Village in Staunton, Virginia. She was 86 years old.
Shirley was born on May 19, 1938 in Roanoke, Virginia to Lewis and Betty (Prillaman) Roop. She graduated from Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind (VSDB) in Staunton in 1956. In 1961, she graduated from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC.
She was a physical education teacher at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind in Tuscon, Arizona for 4 years before returning to her home state of Virginia and teaching PE at VSDB for 26 years. She served as a coach of track & field and volleyball, sponsor for cheerleading, and a Girl Scout leader. A skilled athlete herself, she was inducted into Gallaudet University’s Sports Hall of Fame for field hockey in 2000.
Shirley lived her life fully and joyfully. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, sharing her infectious laugh where ever she went. She loved being a mother and grandmother most of all. Her special interests included sewing and quilting, photography, gardening, and traveling. In 2002, Shirley was honored with the Virginia Association of the Deaf Mother of the Year Award.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 56 years, Dawayne, and her brother, L. John Roop, Jr.
She will forever be cherished and missed by her family and friends. Shirley is survived by her children Suzanne (Chris) Botkin of Fort Defiance, Virginia and Patrick (Amy) Werner of Bridgewater, Virginia; her grandchildren Hunter (Katelynn) Botkin, Hannah (Justin) Doss, Logan Botkin (Tyler Allen), Jackson Werner, Emily (Jonah) Neri; her great grandchildren IvyRose, Hazel, Amelia, Elias, and Delaney; her sisters Betty (Grant) Young and Martha (Ray) Stone, and sister-in-law Judy Roop; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Shirley will be greatly missed by her family and friends, but we take comfort in knowing that her life had an effect on many that cannot be put into words. She was a blessing to those who knew her. We know she is with the LORD and we shall one day see her again. She was a kind and faithful servant.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Wellspring Village who loved and cared for Shirley while she lived there and Legacy Hospice who provided her with loving and compassionate health care. We are deeply grateful.
Family, friends, and others whose lives Shirley touched are invited to a celebration of life service at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Frist Presbyterian Church (17 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA 22802). A reception will follow.
Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive, Staunton is in charge of her arrangements.
Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.coffmanfuneralhome.net
