Shirley Ann Jenks

December 7, 1946-July 22, 2023

Shirley Ann Jenks (Nee: Merickle) was born in San Diego, California on December 7, 1946 to Lee and Joann Merickle. Shirley was the oldest of her four siblings Bob, Vonnie and Brian.  The family spent most of their time in San Diego with a brief residency in Hungry Horse, Montana.  In 1977 Shirley, her first husband, Jim Bradshaw, and their daughters, Michele and Sandi, moved from California to Chewelah, Washington where they remained until their children graduated from high school.  In 1988 Shirley met Kevin Jenks, her soulmate and love of her life and their storybook marriage adventure began shortly after.

Together, Kevin and Shirley played a huge role in their daughter's lives where Kevin became their "Bonus Dad" and over the years, best friend.  Shirley and Kevin always stressed family first and played an integral and influential role in the lives of their grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Affectionately known as Big Papa and GiGi, Kevin and Shirley spent many of their days toting grandkids to baseball games, camping trips to Sheep Creek and Silverwood, visits to the Oregon Coast where GiGi passed on her notorious rock skipping skills, and they always made every Christmas one most kids only dream about.  Shirley's legacy as a strong matriarch and her legendary fried chicken and baked beans recipes will be carried through her family for generations to come.

Shirley began working at Vaagen Bros. not long after moving to Chewelah.  It was here she met her best friend and partner in crime of more than 40 years, Suzie Gotham.  Shirley left Vaagen's, worked for the City of Colville for a time but found her true calling as a para-educator at Fort Colville Elementary School until she retired in 2017.  She always referred to her students as "my kids" and kept tabs on them as they grew to adulthood.  She couldn't walk down the street or an aisle at the grocery store without being greeted by her former students with warm smiles and loving hugs.  She treasured every minute of that.

If you knew Shirley Jenks you knew unconditional love.  You knew true friendship, compassion and an open, accepting heart.  You knew her brilliant mind right up until disease robbed her of it.  You felt her presence when she walked into a room and you wanted to follow her out when she left it.  You knew a woman who would die for her family and one who is mourned so deeply now that she has.  If you knew Shirley Jenks, you are blessed indeed.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, both of whom died in her arms, and her younger sister, Vonnie Marshall.

She is survived by her husband and soulmate, Kevin Jenks, her daughters, Michele Jacobs (Jason) & Sandi Dotts (John); her sons, Nick Jenks (Amanda)  & Greg Marshall; grandchildren, Jeremiah Somday (Jacquelyn), Kayelee Alexander (Tylor), Ariel Ferguson, Tanner Somday (Rianna), and James Jenks; great grandchildren, Kashes Somday, Carter Ferguson-Dotts, Paisley and Piper Alexander, Maggie Ferguson and Zayla and Haisley Baldwin, and her siblings,  Bob Merickle (Tina), Brian Merickle (Sandy), Ken Jenks (Lois), Nancy Owens (Richard) and Jeremy Jenks (Erin), along with a host of nieces and nephews she loved like her own children.

The funeral services for Shirley will begin on Saturday, August 5, 2023 with a 10:00 am funeral mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.  A potluck reception will follow at the Colville Ag-Trade Center.  In lieu of flowers, please make any charitable donations in her memory to Shriners Hospital or Ronald Mc Donald house in Shirley's honor.  Please visit the on-line memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com.  Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements.