Shirley Catherine Kreps, age 96 of Temperance, MI, also known as Mom, Mama, Shirlaaaay, Momaroonie, Grandma, Gram, Grams, Grammie, Great-grammie, Miss Shirley and Mrs. Fudd, went on to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 12, 2026, to join her loved ones who have gone on before her.

Born June 12, 1930, in Monroe, Michigan to Floyd and Irene (Colton) Harris. Shirley attended Boyd School and graduated from Monroe High School in 1948.

Shirley met the love of her life at Floral City skating rink in 1948 when Chuck literally fell at her feet! They married on September 8, 1950, at First Evangelical United Brethren Church of Monroe and were married for 62 years. Shirley and Chuck were members of Zion United Methodist Church and were active in Sunday School and were part of Lay Witness Missions. In 1983, Shirley and Chuck then became members of Stewart Road Church of God where they were active in teaching Sunday school and leading bible studies. In later years, Shirley transferred to Bedford Alliance Church, to be closer to her home, where she attended bible studies and senior offerings. In each of her churches, Shirley was known for her love and kind support toward others.

Each fall, when the grandkids were of school age, Shirley and Chuck had a back-to-school party where they dressed as Mrs. and Mr. Fudd. The party included games, back to school gifts. lunch box treats and loaded PB and J sandwiches which were first slathered in butter!

Shirley worked at the Monroe Credit Bureau for 37 years, retiring in 1999. One of her responsibilities was to train and supervise the co-op students. Her patience and teaching abilities were a big part of who she was and she is remembered fondly by her former co-op students for guidance on the job and in life. Shirley volunteered at the Monroe Senior Center and the Monroe Thrift Shop and read to students at Custer Elementary School. She always enjoyed reading for pleasure and was able to continue, as her accessibility declined, with larger print books and then audio books delivered by Tammy and Kim, “the library ladies”, a part of the Monroe County Library in Motion / Homebound Services. Kim, one of the library ladies, was one of her former co-op students. Shirley’s social life was full with friends, new and old, up until her passing.

Shirley was a proud member of the Lullaby Extension Group, which is part of Michigan State University Extension Services, from 1952 to the day of her passing. The members of this group were like family. This sisterhood not only shared tips and laughter on how to be better homemakers, mothers and wives, they also camped and traveled together. In addition to wonderful friendships, a few memories from the group are family camping on the 4th of July at Lakeside and Somerset, family holiday gatherings and traveling to Hawaii. Over the years, Shirley and her extension sisters created many beautiful memories and friendships for themselves and their families. This sisterhood still has a few members remaining at the time of Shirely’s passing, which she deeply cherished in these later years.

Shirley's greatest legacy is her family and her love for Jesus and her hope all may know Him. Her message to all of us, especially in her passing, would be to realize how much Jesus loves us and to accept this love and his sacrifice for us. Shirley profoundly touched our lives and her greatest hope is to someday see all of us in heaven.

She will be greatly missed on this earth by her family, son Gregory (Sandra) Kreps of LaSalle, three daughters, Susan (Terry) Clark of LaSalle, Barbara (Stephen) Fischer of Temperance, and Karen (Robert) Bowman of LaSalle, grandchildren Heather (Douglas) Hovey, Ryan Clark, Sarah (Benjamin) Blondin, Elizabeth (wife of deceased grandson, Eric) Fischer, Joel Clark, Kelli (Christopher Preston) Kreps, Kathryn (Torbjørn Vik) Kreps, Benjamin (Jennifer) Bowman, Nicholas Kreps and Molly (Corson) Meadows, great-grandchildren Parker Hovey, Paxton Hovey, Kaylee Hovey, Gabriella Hovey, Delaney Blondin, Christopher Preston II, Brady Blondin, Maxwell Fischer, Eloise Krepsvik, Charles Bowman, Thomas Krepsvik and Cleo Meadows, sister Pearl (Melvin) Harris, two sisters-in-law Shirley (Jerry) Anteau and Marge (Roger) Kreps, and nieces and nephews Sharon (Gary) Grabowski, Shirley (Robert) Harcek, Laura (Robert Hogg) Harris, Aaron Harris, Justin (Elizabeth) Harris, Scott Kreps, Debra (Matthew) Brannan, Marc (Joanne) Kreps, Jeffery (Chris) Anteau, Douglas (Patricia) Kreps, James (Janice) Anteau, and Lori (Robert) Hennessey.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Charles of 62 years, brother Aaron Harris, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Lee and Jane Kreps, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Roger and Marilyn Kreps, brother-in-law Jerry Anteau, brother-in-law Melvin Harris, sister-in-law Judy (David) Brazier, grandson Eric Fischer, nephew Gary Anteau, sister-in-the-Lord Betty Ansel and the Lullaby Extension sisters who have gone on before her.

Visitation will be from 3pm to 7pm Tuesday, Sept. 22nd at the Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, MI, 48161. Shirley will lie in state Wednesday at the funeral home from 10 am until funeral service at 11am. Rev. Ryan Wright, Lead Pastor of Bedford Alliance Church, will officiate. A private interment service will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Cure NF2 Foundation at https://curenf2.org/, the disease her grandson Eric succumbed to in 2019, or to the Monroe County Library System: memo- Outreach Seniors (Monroe County Library Memorial Gift).