Shirley Ann Delaune

Shirley Ann (Gray) Delaune, 81, of Fort Pierce, Florida, died Saturday, September 26, 2015, at Hospice House in Fort Pierce from complication of leukemia. Shirley was born in Chester, PA, on August 16, 1934 to Robert C. and Martha Irene (Wingfield) Gray. She was the third of six children, with four brothers (Charles, Robert, Richard, and Victor) and a sister, Kathryn (Betty). Because her parents owned and operated a restaurant, Shirley was responsible for looking after her younger siblings. She graduated from Ridley Park High School in Chester, PA in 1952. Shortly thereafter, her family relocated to West Palm Beach, Florida. There she met Paul Landis Delaune who was enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and stationed in West Palm Beach. They fell in love and married in 1953. Three sons followed: Paul, Jr. in 1955; Robert Leonce, in 1957; and David Joe, in 1960. Throughout his service, Paul and Shirley lived in many different places: Louisiana, Indiana, Spain, South Dakota, and Maryland. Many close friendships were formed with other “military” families. They retired to Port St, Lucie, Florida in 1971. Unfortunately, tragedy struck shortly thereafter, when Paul Jr. was injured in a motorcycle accident and left a quadriplegic until his death in 2003. Shirley and Paul Sr. dedicated themselves to caring for Paul Jr., until tragedy struck again in August, 1974, when Paul Sr. was killed in an automobile accident leaving Shirley to care for Paul Jr. and her other sons alone. Still, she persevered, and thanks in no small part to her efforts, Paul Jr. defied the odds, going on to earn undergraduate and graduate college degrees, and surviving for well over 30 years before succumbing to complications of his injury. As her sons grew up, Shirley entered into a long and enjoyable career in banking, first at Port St. Lucie Bank, then St. Lucie County Bank and finally at Barnett Bank. Shirley was the ultimate “people-person” she held various offices at these banks that kept her in contact with the public on the daily basis, which she loved and excelled at. She was involved with many community organizations and fundraisers. After retiring from banking, Shirley served as Administrative Assistant to St. Lucie County Commissioner Denny Green from 1993 - 1996, and then enjoyed many years employed with Publix Supermarkets. She thrived on the daily interactions with people that these positions required.

In her later years, Shirley reacquainted with Thomas Jerome Kahler, a friend of her and Paul Sr. from their Air Force days. They eventually married, and enjoyed several years of traveling the world, socializing, dining, and dancing with friends at the Elks Club and elsewhere, and their beloved Shih Tzu’s, Ben and Jerry. They divorced in 2013.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Martha Irene; her brother, Charles; her first husband, Paul Sr.; her son, Paul Jr., and her second husband, Thomas Kahler. She is survived by her son, Robert (Susie) of Key West; her son David (Audrey) of Fort Pierce, and her grandchildren Kyle Delaune and Cody Delaune of Fort Pierce, and Olivia Grace Delaune of Key West and Asheville, North Carolina.

A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Port St. Lucie, 260 Prima Vista Boulevard in Port St. Lucie, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 22. Her inurnment will be at All Saints Cemetery, 2303 NE Seaview Drive in Jensen Beach, Florida , in a private ceremony at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Humane Society of St. Lucie County, Inc.