Shirley Hoover

Shirley A. Hoover (nee Hamel), age 82, of Amherst, passed away on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at New Life Hospice Residential Center following a short illness.

Born May 14, 1929 in Amherst to the late Floyd and Bessie (nee Shellhouse) Hamel, she resided there her entire life. Shirley graduated from Amherst High School in 1947.

She worked as a sales clerk at Park Avenue Fashion Shop in Amherst for many years.

She was a member of Amherst Congressional United Church of Christ and the Mary Jane's and Mary Martha's of the church. She was also a former member of the Senior Citizens of Amherst and was a former Girl Scout leader.

Shirley enjoyed writing poetry and corresponding with her pen-pals from various countries. She was a devoted grandmother and great-mother.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon (Richard) Updegrove, of Amherst; her grandchildren, Kelleen (Dan) Woodlock and Richard (Jennifer McEwen-Updegrove) Updegrove; her great-grandchildren, Nicholas Woodlock, Leif McEwen-Updegrove and Aurora McEwen-Updegrove and her brother, Gerald (Jane) Hamel of Alamogordo, New Mexico, and nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Lois Bailey and her brother, James Hamel.

The family will receive friends on Monday, February 20th from 5-8 p.m. in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Rd., Amherst, where a funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 21st at 12:00 noon. Pastor Attila Szemesi, of Amherst Congressional United Church of Christ, will officiate. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Ridge Hill Memorial Park, Amherst Twp.

Family and friends may leave online condolences at www.dovinreberjones.com.