Celebrating her 75th birthday in Destin, Florida
Graduation Picture 1944	Last Picture Age 83
July 9, 2006
Shirley's parents Walter and Grace McPherson 1941

The McPherson's Rill(Bud), Donald, Shirley, Walter(Dad), Morley October 2, 1953

SHIRLEY MAY McPHERSON MANSUR OBITUARY Shirley (McPherson) Mansur, age 83 of Monticello passed away on April 7, 2009 at North Memorial Medical Center of Robbinsdale. Memorial services will be Monday April 13, 2009 at 11 AM at Peterson-Grimsmo Chapel of Monticello. Fr. Tim Rudolphi will officiate. Private interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery of Minneapolis. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral chapel. Funeral arrangements are with the Peterson-Grimsmo Chapel of Monticello. Shirley was born on February 25, 1926 in Monticello to Walter Irving McPherson and Grace Zabel McPherson. She was the youngest of seven children and spent her childhood in the Monticello-Big Lake area. She graduated from Monticello High School and worked several years as a bookkeeper at the Monticello Dying Plant. Shirley was united in marriage on October 2, 1953 to William Charles Mansur, Jr. of Elk River, MN. They had twin sons, William Neil Mansur and Barry Charles Mansur. They spent their early years of marriage in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, Bloomington, and Dalton, Georgia. They returned to Bloomington, MN where Shirley worked 23 years for the Bloomington School District. Upon retirement, they moved to Monticello. Shirley was a member of the Monticello Hospital Auxillary and the American Legion Auxiliary. Shirley enjoyed playing cards, bowling, golf, crafts, volunteer work, and lunching with friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Ann Lorraine; four brothers Rill (Bud), Lyle, Morley, Neil; and sister in law Helen. She is survived by her husband William; sons Bill and Barry; daughters-in-law Lynette and Dena; granddaughter Nicolyn; grandsons Zachary and Dylan; brother Donald (Donna) McPherson of Elk River; sister-in-law Edith McPherson of Monticello; and many special nieces and nephews.

SHIRLEY's MEMORIAL SERVICE Celebration of Life Her own Selections Organist: Beth Ann Kirscht (Shirley's niece) Honorary Pallbearers: Mary Anderson, Shirley Anderson, Marjorie Biskie, Mary Donahue, and Carmen Nelson Song - "HOW GREAT THOU ART" Song - "AMAZING GRACE" Reading - PSALM 23 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD THE APOSTLES CREED I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen. Song - "THE OLD RUGGED CROSS"
Shirley May McPherson Mansur In her own words
1926	Shirley May McPherson was born February 25, 1926, 7:45 AM at 425 E River St, Monticello, MN. The story goes that Dad got out of bed from a bout of yellow jaundice and double pneumonia and Dr. Ellison delivered me at home. Dad made breakfast for the boys; Bud, Don, Morley and Neil and burned the toast. They moved up the hill a block away to 512 East Broadway in Monticello. Her mother said that at an early age Shirley used to crawl under their Apex console radio and sing along everytime she heard them play "Bye, Bye Blackbird".
1929	--- Due to the Stock Market Crash of Mom and Dad lost everything they had in the bank and Bud had to drop out of college.
1932	We were stil living in the Hudson house in Big Lake when I started first grade. In August of 1990 when Big Lake had their ALL SCHOOL REUNION I stood in my first grade classroom and could just visualize the way the room was arranged and even where I sat.
1934	We moved to the Shank farm in Big Lake when I was in grade 3. We had to walk to school (about a mile) and in the winter when the snow was deep I would try to walk in Don, Morley and Neil's footsteps so I could keep up with them.
1935	We moved to the Snyder farm north of the cemetery in Big Lake. It was a very hot summer with record temperatures and drought. We had a big garden and two cows, Daisy and June. Mom used to skim the cream from the milk we got and sell it to the Cream Station to buy coffee, sugar, flour, etc. We also had chickens and some "Turkins" (a cross between a chicken and a turkey) which were very good eating. I remember eating lots of pancakes, sometimes three times a day when food was scarce. In the winter we would sit around the dining room table and study by the oil lamp and eat popcorn (which we grew in our garden). Don used to milk the cows and sing "I'm in the Mood for Love" and we used to stand outside the door and giggle. Bud and Dad were both working for the WPA on the overhead bridge between Big Lake and Elk River. We were playing hide and seek one evening in the early summer with the Gahr kids; MaryAnn, Patty, Casey and Jim. Neil fell and cut his knee on a broken bottle. He developed "lock jaw" and he died June 30, l935 at the age of 12. He was the closest to my age and and we were pals so I missed him
1938	Bud was playing baseball and we went to ball games every Sunday. (Ironically, young Billy Mansur was the batboy and I never laid eyes on him cuz I spent most of the time sitting in the car reading or playing cards. I didn't care too much for baseball at that age.)
1939	Beth Ann was born December 13, l939 to brother Bud and Edith. Bud and Edith lived in Big Lake across the highway from the lake in an upstairs apartment. I used to have lunch with Edith every school day and then I would get to feed Beth too. This was big stuff for a 13 year old. (Beth Ann is our organist today). By this time Dad had returned from Princeton and had a barbershop in Monticello.
1940	When school finally started I was there all right. Miss Kennedy told me to set in the last seat in the middle row and I did. The girl ahead of me turned around and said, "Hi, I'm Jean Nelson. What's your name? FIFTY PLUS years later, JeanNelson Armalino is still my very best friend.
1942	The men, Dad and Bud, were deer-hunting and Edith was in the maturity home. That was the day of my Junior Class Play so Mom took Beth Ann to the play with her. When I came on stage, Beth said "Hi Aunt Shirley" and everybody just roared, including me. It was early winter of this year that Mom went by bus to the Meninger Clinic in Missouri and was told she had incurable breast cancer. She was given a year and a half to live (she lived almost two and a half).
1944	I was a senior in high school and working in the Drug Store one night when I started coughing up lots and lots of blood. Mr. Boyd got frantic and sent me home making me promise to see Dr. Ellison the next day. Finally he took an Xray and sent it out to be read....the results said I had tuberculosis of the right lung and a tiny bit in the left lung. I never did return to school. Feburary 8, 1944, Dad drove me to Ah Gwah Ching, MN (near Walker) where I was hospitalized until December 14, 1945. I didn't walk again for 15 1/2 months. I continued my schooling with a tutor and in June took State Board Exams and my high school diploma was then issued to me from Monticello, Mn.
1945	But Mom is getting weaker and weaker and Grace McPherson died January 27, l945, and interred in Big Lake, MN. I was 18 years old and really needed my Mom. They weren't happy to let me go home for Mom's funeral but I really insisted and literally told them "no power on earth could stop me". Dad and Morley came to get me. It was miserably cold. I did spend a week at home but returned to the San with a terrible cold which didn't make the staff happy...I was already in hot water. By mid February I was making very good progress and after 22 months, on December 14, 1945 I was released from with a clean bill of health. Home just in time for Christmas.....the best present I ever had.
1946	Shirley and William Mansur meet March 4th 1946. We ran into each other many times after this at various places....mostly sports events etc.. But one Sunday night Don and Donna took Shirley Anderson and I to a dance at the Big Lake ballroom and Bill showed up to give us a ride home. From then on things got pretty serious and before long we were "going steady". We went out a lot in Elk River with different couples, one of which was Gin and Bob Cornelius (Dad's best friend and boyhood chum). In Monticello we went out mostly with Carmen and Bob Nelson, Martie and Vidie Abrahamson, Joyce and Al Hansen and Peg and Wendell Christensen. From these people lifelong friendships bloomed and as families we got together and and still do in our senior years.
1953	William Mansur graduated Univ. of Mn. - June 1953 Shirley and William Mansur married October 2, l953 Elk River, MN. Moved to 707 Grand Ave. St. Paul, MN Bill worked at Montgomery Ward on University Avenue in St . Paul and I stayed home learning to be a housewife. We couldn't afford TV. For entertainment we played gin rummy for a penny a point.....I think I still owe Bill hundreds of dollars. Once or twice a week we visited Great Grandma Cruzan and Grandma Martha who lived at 599 Marshall Avenue in St Paul, MN. We usually watched TV which was a treat for us. On week-ends we often went to Monticello or Elk River to visit relatives. The most fun we had was getting together every few weeks with two or three couples from Wards. We'd take turns entertaining and usually spend the evening playing Charades and laughing like crazy.
Our Mom Mom was so much more than meets the eye. She was a photographer, family historian, navigator, adventurer and an oracle or sage to many of us. She had true life-long friends and kindred spirits from her childhood in Shirley Anderson, Carmen Nelson and Jeanne Armelino. She created priceless photo journals of her life and travels as well as those of her ancestors and her family. Each grandchild's life and laughter in their own volume. She was an adventurer and navigator. She took trips to Chicago and New York with her best friends. She and Dad took us on many memorable trips across the entire nation and Canada. Then Dad and Mom continued their adventures. This small town girl stood at the top of Pikes Peak, visited San Francisco & the Golden Gate Bridge, the Canadian Rockies, Yellowstone & the Grand Teton, the Grand Canyon, New England, wintered in Florida, vacationed in Cancun, visited the Smithsonian & Washington DC and kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland. To name just a few of her adventures. She was also an oracle or sage to many of us. She had wisdom for things that are not written in books, how to treat people, how to be a friend, how to have patience with the ones you love and how to be forgiving. But above all this she was an incredible Mother and Grandmother. We did not fully understand how fortunate we were to have her as our mother until we saw her with our children. She was so patient, understanding, giving and caring. She cherished her daughter-in-laws Lynn & Dena as her very own daughters. She was always ready to help. Giving us a "kid-break" as she put it, when we needed it as new parents. She so loved her granddaughter Nicky after being around way too many boys for so long. She watched Nicky grow into a beautiful young woman and rejoiced in her marriage to a fine young man, Dean Brillowski. She was proud of her grandsons Zach and Dylan. After their many lunches together, she always let Barry know "what great young men they were and how easy it was for them to talk to us old coots (her & Dad)". Thanks Dad for accompanying her on her incredible journey, taking care of her and us... and giving so very, very much. Now it is up to us to carry on her legacy. To live up to her ideals, to embrace life to the fullest the way she did... and not only hold her love in our hearts but share it with those around us. She will always be our mother, our friend and our hero. Proudly her sons, Bill and Barry
Song - "THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS" THE LORD's PRAYER Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. The song she selected as the last song in her memorial, her message to us. "WE'LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN" Frank Sinatra Version

Shirley's Memorial Card Verses selected by Shirley

WILLIAM C. MANSUR JR. -- MEMORIAL PAGE
12/12/1923-9/18/2014 - 90 YEARS Forever in our Hearts Son, Uncle "Bull Frog", Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, S.O.B. (Sweet Ole Bill)
To Bill's Memorial page, click here