Shirley Moffett

Shirley was born in La-Grande, Oregon on February 25, 1936 to the Rev. Shirley Ellsworth Smutz and Ruth Swan Burney. After a two-week courtship, she married the love of her life, Eri, in Washington. Their love lasted for 68 years. Shirley worked in the home, cooking up great meals and baking delicious pies, all while keeping their five children, Danny, Douglas, David, and Diana in line. After their children were grown and starting lives of their own, Eri took a job in Yellowstone Park, where they lived during the summers for 11 years. While Eri worked, Shirley grew her artistic talents, spending her days exploring the wilds of the park and documenting them through her photography and oil paintings. She also enjoyed working for the Yellowstone Association Bookstore at Fishing Bridge, where she loved telling stories and laughing with all those she encountered. Fishing was the great passion of her life, from the deep seas off the Oregon Coast to the Columbia River and the beautiful high mountain lakes of Montana. In 1965, when Eri suggested they move from Portland, Oregon to his home state of Montana, Shirley agreed after he promised to take her fishing. Every weekend, she would pack up the camper and the family for whatever adventures awaited them. Many wonderful times were spent exploring the outdoors with aunts, uncles, cousins, and sometimes even horses, with anyone brave enough to join in. Shirley and Eri instilled in their children a lifelong love and appreciation of nature. Shirley was also an avid collector of stamps, anything resembling an elephant, and she enjoyed cataloging the family shenanigans in extensive photo albums and home movies. It was wonderful to have memories documented in such detail. Shirley had great wit and a lively presence, making any gathering a fun and sometimes outrageous celebration. She cherished her Friday night card games, ensuring it was never a dull or boring moment when she was around.