Shirley Mae Grier

Shirley Mae Grier, 87, of Freeport died Tuesday at Manor Court of Freeport at Liberty Village. She was born November 14, 1925 in Lanark, Illinois the daughter of Joseph and Dorothy (Tomman) Cunningham. Shirley married Laverne Heitter in 1947, he died Feb. 17, 1965. She then married Kenneth Springer in 1966, he died May 20, 1972. She later married Burdettte 'Bud' Grier on March 2, 1973, he died in March of 2007. Shirley was a 1943 graduate of Lanark High School. She was employed from 1957 to 1970 as secretary to the mayor of Freeport, working with Glen Kunkle, Joe Shelly and Mark McLeroy. She was a member of First Lutheran Church and a member of Martha'™s Circle. She was also an associate member of Grace Lutheran Church of Lakeland , Florida. She enjoyed baking cookies, crafts, spending time with her grandchildren and wintering in Florida. Mrs. Grier is survived by her two sons; Darryl (Lucia) Heitter of Forreston and Terry (Judy) Heitter of McKinney, Texas. Her step-daughter, Bonnie Uldale of Auburndale, Fla. Her grandsons; Seth (Christa) Heitter, Derek Heitter, Dustin (Sarah) Heitter and Marc (Angela) Heitter. Her granddaughter, Michelle Heitter, step-granddaughters; Hilary Springman, Jen (Charlie) Ferris, Julie (Tommy) Towsend; great grandchildren, Jarren and Brenna Heitter, Kylah, Kaden and McKenna Heitter, Savanah Heitter, and Vanessa and Madysen Heitter; great step grandchildren, Ennen and Eli Ferris, Brody (Haley) Towsend; step great-great grandchildren, Ella Towsend; brothers, Stanley Cunningham of Machesney Park, Don (Joanie) Cunningham of Corning, NY.; sister-in-law, Joyce Grier. Mrs. Grier was preceded in death by her son, Perry Heitter; brothers, Keith Cunningham and Tom Cunningham, infant brother, Gail Cunningham; sister-in-laws, Kay Cunningham, Betty Cunningham; and step-grandsons, Jason Moore and Jeffery Oxley. Memorial services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, First Lutheran Church in Freeport. Rev. Keith Johnson will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the Church. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. A memorial has been established in her memory. Please sign the guestbook at www.burketubbs.com.