Shirley was born to Orval and LaVelle Johnson on January 8, 1929 and passed away on December 19, 2023.
Shirley spent her early life growing up on a farm in the South Prairie area. She graduated from Tillamook High School and went to work as a switchboard operator for Bell Telephone. She worked for many years as a poll worker counting votes at election time and also in the yardage department at McGregors for several years.
She married Ellis Burt on July 16, 1950 and they spent many years hunting, fishing and camping with their kids. They were in a bowling league together and often gathered at night with friends to play cards.
A few of Shirley’s many hobbies include walking at the YMCA with her friend Cheryl, knitting, reading books, sewing, watching golf and football and working puzzles. She loved watching her hummingbirds and yellow finches. Shirley and Ellis always had outstanding gardens and canned many fruits and vegetables every year. Shirley was in Eastern Star and was an active volunteer at the Tillamook Pioneer Museum. She spent many hours working at the front desk, helping with the Bylines, and working in the booth at the Tillamook Fair. She was a Pioneer member for 46 years and was Pioneer of the Year in 2010 along with her life long friend Berta Bell.
Ellis and Shirley loved traveling around the Pacific Northwest. After Ellis passed, Shirley went on trips with her kids to Hawaii, Mexico, Alaska and Europe. In later years you could always find her with her coffee friends on Tuesdays at South Prairie Store.
She is survived by her daughter Susan (Burt) Evans and Rich Evans of Christmas Valley, son Ronald and Cheri Burt of Corvallis, daughter Janet Burt of Tillamook, son David and Jenny Burt of Tillamook, sister Sheron Christensen of Redmond, grandchildren David, Melanie, Laurie, Ronnie, Nicole and Evan, plus 10 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
Per Shirley’s request, a graveside service was held for immediate family at Sunset Heights on December 27. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 1 pm at Alderbrook Hall in Tillamook.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in her name to Tillamook County Pioneer Association at PO Box 992, Tillamook, OR 97141.
