Shirley A. Grimes, 95, of Paducah died on January 17. 2025, at the Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah. She was born October 16, 1929 to the late Jess and Rebecca Shumaker Crocker.
Shirley was born in the home of her maternal grandparents, Link and Alice Shumaker at 521 South 9th Street. In her early years she lived in the Glenwood area of Paducah on North 25th Street. She attended Andrew Jackson Grade School for 6 years. At. 12 years of age her mother died. She moved with her father to Lone Oak Road and attended Brazelton Junior High School. Then she moved to the 1600 block of Broadway from where she attended Augusta Tilghman High School. She played clarinet in the Tilghman High School Band. Her father taught her to play golf as a teenager and she frequently played at Paxton Park during her lifetime.
After graduating from high school in 1947 at the age of 17, she went to work for Southern Bell Telephone Co. She was one of the girls, who asked, "Number, please?" in the day when it was customary. She was able to buy a car by the time she was 18.
Shirley and W, Dalton Greenfield were married at the Fountain Avenue Methodist Church on October 18, 1952. They had a long and happy marriage. Dalton was an attorney who eventually took the position of Friend of the Court in McCrarcken County. Shirley had many jobs in addition to keeping house. She was a teacher's Aide for Paducah City School System. She clerked in a women's dress shop. She worked in a doctor's office, greeting patients and getting them ready for examination.
Shirley's landmark contribution had to do with McCracken County Humane Society (MCHS). In 1977 she and her husband, Dalton, took an interest in the plight of the animals in the city dog pound. They became involved with the MCHS. They raised money, took donations, and started an investment fund. By 1980 they oversaw the purchase of property on Coleman Road and built a shelter. They worked with city and county officials to house stray and unwanted animals. Shirley was the full time volunteer director of the shelter and treasurer of the MCHS until 2011.
In 1992 Dalton Greenfield died. After a number of years Shirley married Fred Grimes. They were both widowed and had known each other as respective couples for many years.. Fred Grimes died in 2015. Both men were World War ll veterans. Dalton was in the D-day invasion and Fred was in the South Pacific.
In her last years Shirley has lived in Jackson Oaks, Rivercrest, and most recently at Charter Senior Living. She is survived by her 1st cousin, Dr. James L. (Camilla) Shumaker and family.
Funeral service will be at 1:00 PM Thursday January 23, 2025 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with Mr. Danny Orazine officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Kenton Cemetery in Paducah. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to McCracken County Humane Society, 4000 Coleman Road, Paducah, KY 42001 or Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center, % Mercy Health Foundation Lourdes, 1500 Lone Oak Road, Paducah, KY 42003. Share a memory or leave a message for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.
