DANVERS - Shirley (Stahler) Childs Hey of Danvers, passed away peacefully on the morning of June 23rd, 2024 at her home at Putnam Farm after a period of declining health.

She was born in Boston, Mass on May 10th, 1934 to parents Dorothy and Frank Stahler. She spent her early years in Boston, later relocating to Middleton, Andover and then Danvers where she raised her four children. She was employed as a much-loved English teacher in the Danvers school system for thirty-two years and proudly taught many generations of middle school students.

She attended Abbott Academy and graduated from Punchard High School in Andover. She enrolled in Merrimack College, earning her degree in English Education while raising her four children. In the following years, she completed her Master's degree in education at Cambridge College.

Shirley was predeceased by her husband Allan E. Hey in 2003 and her brother Kenneth Stahler of Danvers. She is survived by her children; Sue Gatzimos and her husband, Stratton of NH, Carol Tobey of NH, Paula Hovey of Danvers, and Fred Childs and his partner, Anne Harper of Beverly. She leaves four adored grandchildren, Kerri Schott, Ryan Prokop, Shawn Tobey and Courtney Tobey. She also leaves five great-grandchildren and her sister, Carolyn Stahler-Jigerjian of Hyannis.

Shirley enjoyed traveling throughout the state of Maine where she fly fished in the Allagash River and spent many summers at her home in Georgetown, Maine. She also enjoyed her annual trips to Las Vegas with her husband Allan before his death.

Her children and grandchildren will miss celebrating the holidays with Grammy Hey, both in Danvers and in Maine where each child looked forward to digging clams, eating lobster and walking to the pier to get ice cream. Those special family times will certainly be missed.

The family would like to thank the staff at Putnam Farm in Danvers where our mom made her home for the last year. She was cared for with the upmost respect and love. In her final months, Care Dimensions made it possible for her to remain at Putnam while they provided excellent care and compassion at all times.

ARRANGEMENTS: A graveside service for Shirley will be privately held. Assisting the family with the arrangements is O'Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St., (Rte. 62) DANVERS. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley's memory may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., (Suite B-102) Danvers, MA 01923. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com.