Shirley G. (Presley) Perez

Shirley G. (Presley) Perez, 73, Defiance passed away February 18, 2018 at CHP Defiance Area in Patient Hospice Center surrounded by her family. She was born to George and Paulene  (Whited) Presley in Grundy, Virginia and graduated from Grundy High School in 1962. Shirley is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Michael J. Perez, who resides in Defiance. 

Shirley will be sadly missed by her son Bill (Laura) Howell, Jr., Defiance, and daughter Shonda Elford, Defiance. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Christopher (Ravyn) Howell, Westerville, OH, Ethan Howell, Bryanna Perez-Elford and David M. Elford, all of Defiance.

She is also survived by her brother Douglas Presley, Abingdon, Virginia and her sisters Carolyn “Kay” Gilbert, Lebanon, Virginia and Sheiah (Ron) Espinoza, Tucson, Arizona. Shirley is survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and her nephew Adrian Espinoza.

Shirley worked at General Motors Powertrain and as a rural route driver for The Crescent News.

She was a member of First Baptist Church, Defiance and also attended Family Christian Center. For many years, she served as the girls’ game coach for the First Baptist AWANA program. 

Shirley’s hobbies included bowling, softball and attending her grandkids’ sporting events. She was one of the founding members of the Little Girls Softball League in Defiance and for decades, coached numerous softball teams and taught many girls to fast pitch.

Shirley was a member of the Women’s International Bowling Congress and the Ohio Women’s Bowling Association, bowling in numerous leagues for decades. She achieved a 300 perfect game score at the age of 60 and made it into the Women’s Bowling Walk of Fame. In addition to her own bowling career, she coached bowling to boys and girls for twenty years on the Saturday morning River City Bowl-a-Way league and served as the Assistant Coach for the Defiance High School girls’ bowling team for two years.

Shirley loved following sports including Defiance High School softball and bowling, and was an avid fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team.

Visitation will be held from 2-4 pm, and 6-8 pm on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at Schaffer Funeral Home in Defiance. Funeral services will be held at  11:00 am on Thursday, February  22, 2018 at Family Christian Center in Defiance, with Pastor Tim Tracy officiating. Burial will follow the service at Riverview Memory  Gardens.

Memorials are suggested to CHP Defiance Area in Patient Hospice Center, or church or charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences can be given at www.Schafferfh.com

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