Shirley Jean Price (Hungerford)

Shirley Jean Price went home peacefully on Sunday, August 11, 2024. 

She was born February 9, 1932 in Decatur, IL to her parents Melvin and Cora (Wilkinson) Wisnasky.  As a young teenager her parents moved to Kalamazoo, MI where her father purchased Bayview Restaurant on Gull Lake. She spent many summers there helping her parents with the restaurant. This is where she met the love of her life, Donald Price. 

She attended Kalamazoo Central High School and graduated in 1950. After graduating, Donald deployed to Korea with the Air Force and Shirley and Donald wrote each other regularly. On April 9, 1955, while Donald was home on leave they married at Yorkville Community Church with a large reception held at the Bayview Restaurant.

 Shirley and Donald spent six months in California, then later moved back to the Gull Lake area.

Soon their first child was born, Julie and three years later, a second child Dann completed their family. In 1966 she started employment at the Gull Lake Community Schools as a baker. She loved being a part of the school system and serving the children. As time went on she became know as the “most friendly lunch lady.” She took great pride in her job and retired in 1989. Shirley was also very involved in volunteer work with the Fine Lake 4-H Club that her children were members of. Many summers were spent at the Barry County Fair. Her primary hobby was spending time with family and friends. She loved to talk and never missed an opportunity to tell a complete stranger her life history.

 Shirley was a warm and loving person who cherished her family above all else. She was very proud of her Polish heritage and enjoyed sharing it with others. She had a soft heart and would quite often, well rather very often, be moved to tears during joyous occasions.

 In April of 1987, the love of her life passed away leaving her to find a new path. She then devoted much time to her two young granddaughters, Jennifer and Jacquelin. She enjoyed going to their basketball and softball games.

As the years progressed, she married Wesley Hungerford in 1995 whom she had known for many years through 4-H days. They were married 26 years prior to his death in April of 2021.

 Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, love of her life Donald, and second husband Wesley.

Shirley will be missed by all who knew her but especially by her daughter Julie, son-in-law Rusty, son Dann, her pride and joy granddaughters Jennifer (Matthew) Hoelzel and Jacquelin (Tomasz) Wecowski, great grandchildren Zofia, Evie, Nolan, Oliver, Lucas, Sebastian, stepchildren Bob and Janet Hungerford and step granddaughters Erica, Holly, and Kelly along with special friend Ken Mellema. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 16, 2024, from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. at the Yorkville Community Church, 11523 E D Avenue, Richland, MI , followed by a service starting at 11:00 a.m., with a luncheon to follow in the Fellowship Room. Interment will be at the Yorkville Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gull Lake Community School Foundation. Arrangements are by Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Richland Chapel. Personal messages for the family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com