Shirley A. James, 78, of Defiance, peacefully passed away with her family at her side on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at Brookview Healthcare Center in Defiance, after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease.

She was born on June 29, 1939 to C. Russell and Ruby Mae (Kuhns) Martin in Fisher, IL. Shirley was baptized in 1946 at Shiloh Methodist Church. She was a very hard worker, and she worked as a fork lift operator at Continental Filling, Peterson Puritan, and Anchor Hocking. She enjoyed crocheting, fishing, loved her cats, and spending time with her best friend Genny Burk.

Shirley will be sadly missed by her sons, Daniel Unzicker and William (Lisa) Unzicker, all of Danville, IL, and David (Marilyn) Unzicker of  Westville, IL, daughters, Teresa (Donald) Watkins of Defiance, OH, and Christie (Alan) Hart of Slaughters,  KY, 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, brothers and sisters; Richard (Sharon) Martin of St. Peters, MO,  Bob (Marie) Martin of Fisher, Joyce (Fred) Strebeck of Gibson City, Steve (Susan) Martin of Fisher, Carolyn (Lynn) Williams of Urbana, Dennis (Debbie) Martin of Fisher, Debbie (Steve) Welborn of Fisher, Terri (Lennie) Heiser of Dewey, and Kevin Martin of Hoopeston, and brother-in-law Brenton Beazly of Bellflower, IL

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Jo Ann Beazly.

A Celebration of Life Service will be scheduled at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to Heartland Hospice or Parkinson's Foundation. Online condolences can be given at www.Schafferfh.com.