Shirley Gould

Shirley Caroline Mathews Gould

Shirley Gould passed away peacefully on the morning of April 26, 2014, with her adoring family by her side. She was born in Bremerton, Washington, to Shirley Wyckleff Mathews and Celia Bell Gee Mathews on November 16, 1927. She grew up in Silverdale, Washington, with her parents and loving brother Lee Mathews.
The military had an enormous impact on Shirley as a young girl. Her father worked in the Naval Shipyard and at the age of 15, Shirley was selected to christen a ship that he had helped build. During World War II, she too worked in the Bangor Ammunition Depot where she met many of her lifelong friends. On numerous weekend evenings, Shirley and her friends would dance the night away at the USO dances.
Music played a large roll in Shirley's life. She was an accomplished organist and her brother Lee an accordion player. They spent countless hours filling the air with their music. Shirley passed her musical talents on to her children as well.
In late 1947, Shirley was introduced to the Gould boys; Snooks and Dale. As Dale would tell the story, the moment he saw Shirley walk down the stairs, he knew that someday she would be his wife. That day came quickly as after just four dates Dale started up his plane and flew to Washington to propose to Shirley. She said "Yes" and they were married in Silverdale on January 4, 1948. Shirley and Dale immediately returned to Buhl, Idaho, and started a life together on GlennDale Ranches where they raised three wonderful children; Shawn, Kip and Celia.
She and Dale also raised registered Angus cattle and showed at the Ogden Stock Show for many years. In the spring, when the herd was moved to their Hailey ranch, Shirley would always follow behind in the small stock truck taking precious care of the baby calves.
Shirley had a sense of humor and was always ready for an adventure. Even though she had a quiet demeanor, she would surprise you with a joke or prank when you least expected it. One of her many memorable trips was when she and Dale, along with Dorothy and George Juker, traveled by train in the 1960's to St. Louis for the National Farmer's Organization Conference, she also attended the "First Lady's Tea" in Washington D.C. and was always up for a trip to Washington to visit her childhood friends. She also spent five days on a yacht with her daughter and friends catching crab and enjoying the beautiful Puget Sound scenery.
After her children left home, Shirley continue giving and caring for people as a Pink Lady at the Twin Falls Hospital. If she wasn't volunteering, she would have a crochet needle in her hands, making over the years, hundreds of caps for the newborns at the hospital.
Shirley will be forever remembered by her sons, Shawn (Ruth) and Kip (Sharon); daughter, Celia (Bruce) Newcomb; her grandchildren, J.D., Grant, Wyatt, Garrett, Sam, Glenda, Layne; five great-grandchildren; Sister-In-Law, Rosemary Mathews; three nieces and a nephew.
Shirley is preceded in death by her husband Dale and brother Lee.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 2, 2014, at the Farmer Funeral Chapel in Buhl, Idaho. Internment will follow at the West End Cemetery.
The Gould family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at River Rock Assisted Living for being so compassionate and making Shirley's last years so comfortable; she adored her River Rock family.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Shirley's name to the Buhl Quick Response Unit Association at 201 N Broadway, Buhl, ID 83316.