Shirley Ann Pelcher

Shirley Ann Northrop-Pelcher of Hastings, Michigan and formerly Bradenton and Boca Raton, Florida departed this life on April 28, 2010. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, April 9, 1920 the daughter of Howard H. and Lillian A. (Riley) Blakely. \r

Her husbands, Gordon D. Northrop PhD and Harry D. Pelcher preceded her in death. A son, Gordon Daniel Northrop, also is deceased.\r

Mrs. Northrop-Pelcher leaves her children, Deborah (Douglas) Mepham, Priscilla (Tony) Carinci, and Timothy (Deborah) Northrop and grandchildren Rachel (Fabrizio) Basso, Rebecca (Joseph) Warren, Sarah Mepham, Andrew Mepham, Christopher and Nicholas Carinci, and Dustin (Evelyn), Tyler and Everett Northrop.\r

Mrs. Pelcher was a teacher in Michigan at Battle Creek, Jackson, Otsego, and Farminton and taught at the Western Michigan University's Training School at Paw Paw as a supervising teacher. She received her BS degree from Eastern Michigan University and her MRE from Eastern Seminary in Philadelphia. She was Commander of Flotilla 81 of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary in Bradenton, Florida and wrote as historian for the group until her death. \r

For 20 years Mrs Pelcher was a pastor's wife and President of the Conservative Baptist Women of Michigan. Dr. Northrop and she also served on the Pryor Indian Reservation in Montana, working with the Crow Indians.\r

Respecting Shirley's wishes, her body has been donated to Michigan State University, where Dr. Northrop took his PhD.\r
Arrangements are by Girrbach Funeral Home. You may leave a message or memory to the family at (girrbach funeralhome.net) \r