Shirley Kay Darrow

Shirley Kay Darrow

Newark/Sun City, Arizona—Shirley Kay Darrow passed away peacefully on November 2, 2021. Shirley was born in Neptune, New Jersey on November 26, 1943. She was a graduate of Horseheads High School in Horseheads, New York where she was on student council, a cheerleader and sang in the high school choir. She was a graduate of Churchman’s Business School in Easton, Pennsylvania. On December 1, 1961, she married Richard (Dick) Lee Darrow and raised four wonderful children. In 1983, they purchased a Home in Newark, New York and lived there until 2016. In 2010, they purchased their current home in Sun City, Arizona. Shirley retired from Newark-Wayne Community Hospital as Collections Manager.

Shirley cherished life and everyone she met. She adored her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. In addition to being a caring daughter, sister, wife, mother, nana and friend, Shirley adored her loving husband Dick, whom she had known since the third grade. Her love for her family was unlimited. Shirley and Dick were involved in many activities. For 33 years they loved sailing together and sailed all over Lake Ontario to many locations in New York State as well as Toronto, Kingston, the Thousand Islands and other ports of call in Canada. Shirley loved dancing and delighted in attending the concerts at both Sun Bowl and Sun Dial in Sun City. She enjoyed putting puzzles together, doing circle word and was an avid reader and loved mysteries. She would often go to the recreation centers to walk in the walking pool. Shirley tried line dancing and would frequently sit with others who couldn’t dance to talk while they listened to the music. Biking, golf cart rides and people watching were also among the things she very much loved. Shirley tried her hand at ceramics and with help from her good friends she made several items that she brought home to enjoy. For the past two years Shirley and Dick spent their summer at Sun Valley Campground in Arkport, New York and visited their family who lived nearby.

Shirley was preceded in death by her father Kenneth Franklin Crofutt and mother Ruth Winifred (Ballard) Crofutt, father-in-law J. Kenneth Darrow, Sr, mother-in-law Alberta Mary (Magee) Darrow, brothers-in-law Fred (Betty) Colosi, Rodney (Gwenn) Clark, Allan (Georgann) Darrow. She is survived by her husband of 59 years as well as their four children: Kenneth Allan Darrow (Ursula), Kathy Lynn Darrow-Holla (Joe), Kim Marie Francis (Chad), Kelly Ann Dir (Chris). She is also survived by two siblings: Betty (Crofutt) Colosi and Gwenn (Crofutt) Clark, brothers-in-law Jay (Janet) Darrow and Jim (Nancy) Darrow, sister-in-law Georgann (Allan) Darrow, 9 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors who also loved her dearly.

A memorial service will be held in the Chapel at Bellevue Heights Church, 9440 W Hutton Dr, Sun City, Arizona, 85351 at 11AM on November 17, 2021. A second memorial service will be held at Paul L. Murphy and Sons Funeral Home, 127 E Miller St, Newark, New York 14513 on November 27, 2021, at 2PM. Shirley’s ashes will come to rest in the Newark Cemetery in Newark, New York 14513. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice.

www.murphyandsonsfuneralhome.com