Shirley K. (Ford) Gaskill, 75, of Eastham, MA died Tuesday, October 24th at Cape Cod Hospital surrounded by her family. She was married for 25 years to Thomas Gaskill Sr. (d.1986) and with Richard Berry for 27 years (d. 2015). She is survived by her son Thomas Gaskill Jr. and his wife Lisa of Hardwick, MA; and two daughters, Patricia Halloran and her husband Paul of Auburn, MA and Michelle Chiaramonte and her husband Joseph of North Haven, CT; six grandchildren, Leah Halloran, Emma Halloran, Padraic Halloran, Connor Halloran, Jillian Chiaramonte and Joseph Chiaramonte, whom she loved with all her heart. Shirley also leaves four sisters, MaryLou Hensely, Dorothy Reading, Anna Sue Roberts and Margaret Johnson and two brothers James Ford and Cecil Ford all of Oklahoma; her companion Thomas Malone; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Patricia Ford (d.1944).
Shirley was born in Kinta, Oklahoma the daughter of Louis and Elva (Haines) Ford, and was baptized in the Baptist faith, she graduated from Lona Valley Elementary and Kinta High School, before moving to Worcester, MA where she raised her family and graduated from Quinsigamond Community College (Nursing). She worked for many years as a nurse at Saint Vincent Hospital (Worcester, MA) before moving to Branford, CT where she worked at Saint Raphael Hospital (New Haven, CT). Shirley retired from Nursing and split her time between Bonita Springs, FL and Cape Cod. Shirley was an avid runner competing in many road races including the Boston Marathon, before taking up the game of golf: she enjoyed traveling and attending the sporting, musical, academic and theatrical performances of her children and grandchildren; but her favorite activity of all was sitting around the table with friends and family eating food, playing cards, telling stories, having laughs and making memories for all to cherish.
A family service will be held at Worcester County Memorial Park on Saturday, October 28th from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice in memory of Shirley Gaskill.