Shirley Ann Logan Carroll

Born December 27, 1930 to Albert and Esther Hedland Logan in Billings, MT, Shirley spent her formative years in Billings, MT; Clearfield, UT; and Jackson, WY.

As a young woman, Shirley pursued a degree to become a pharmacist, but the alchemy of affection redirected her focus to a Wyoming rancher, Ira Lee Carroll, and they were married on September 3, 1950.

Shirley packed up her violin and all her creative talent and settled with Ike, first on Buffalo Star Route outside of Sheridan and then in Ranchester, where she wrangled a warren of seven rowdy ranch kids.

The challenges of raising so large a family created an economy of scale, where bananas were purchased by the box rather than by the bunch, and Shirley had both the talent and stamina to create memorable daily menus to feed not only her big family, but the hired hands, friends and extended family that often joined around her table.

Shirley ran her home like a business, exacting each purchase and expenditure on a well used handheld calculator and dictating duties on a chore matrix posted on the kitchen wall.

When the kids were relegated to their assigned chores in the pastures, gardens, and milk barn, she found time to pursue her passion for the arts. Her tastes in literature ran from Shakespeare to Redbook, and her art found form in her watercolors, sketching, and photography.

She knew how to cut on the bias - whether it involved shears set to fabric or in the spirited expressions of her opinions and observations. Shirley's verbal skill and quick wit left more than a few of us treading rudderless in the wake of her intellectual prowess. And despite the scope and breadth of her multiple interests, she most loved simple ordinary things, the rosy hues of her homemade jams and jellies lined upon the shelves, the light of morning on the Big Horn Mountains, and flowers. She really loved her flowers.

Shirley Carroll died October 3, 2011.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ike Carroll.

She is survived by her sister, Sheryl Hoffarth, Billings, MT; and her children; Kim (Dee) Carroll, Hulett, WY; Duff (Sigrid) Carroll, Huntsville, AL; Sean Kellie) Carroll, Ranchester, WY; Chad (Julie) Carroll, Rapid City, SD; Lisa Carroll, Sheridan, WY; Nathan (Judy) Carroll, Manderson, WY; Andrew (Becky) Carroll, Billings, MT.

These children beget their own children and a few of those children have done some begetting of their own. Numerous grandchildren and great-grand children are among those of us who will miss Shirley's wit, her wisdom, and her strong, resonant character.

Private family services for later in the week are planned. Memorials may be directed to the Advocacy and Resource Center of Sheridan, WY or the charity
of your choice.

Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.

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