Shirley Alice Denevan lived to the age of 102. Shirley passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Twin Rivers Senior Living, in Lewiston, from the infirmities of age.
Shirley was born Sept. 1, 1923, in Bovill, to Francis G. and Georgie (Hayes) Okeefe. She attended all 12 years of school in Bovill and graduated in 1941. After graduation, Shirley and her sister Frances moved to Seattle where they did their part in the war effort by working for Boeing as riveters for military aircraft. After the war, Shirley returned to Bovill and married Robert “Bob” Denevan, who had just returned from five years in the U.S. Navy. They were married on Dec. 1, 1947, in Coeur d’Alene, a marriage that lasted 74 years. They made their first home in Bovill where Bob resumed logging while Shirley worked for her father-in-law, Merle Denevan, at his general store.
In 1948, Bob and Shirley bought their first IGA grocery store in Deary. In 1954, the couple moved to Lewiston and bought their second IGA store on Main Street. When Bob returned to work for Potlatch Forest Industries, Shirley became a devoted housewife. However, not long after, she was lured back into the grocery business by Chet Ridinger to work at the Eonomart located at Fifth and Preston. Shirley thoroughly enjoyed 12 more years as a grocery expert.
Shirley was very active throughout her life. She loved sports, especially basketball. Shirley and her sisters Kathryn and Frances all played on the state championship team. Shirley especially loved watching Gonzaga basketball, the Seahawks and Seattle Mariners whenever they were on TV.
Shirley loved her flower and vegetable gardens. She also enjoyed housecleaning – believe it or not. Bob used to quip, “Shirley never met a vacuum cleaner she didn’t like.”
Some of Shirley’s other favorite activities were huckleberry picking, camping at Priest Lake and skiing in McCall with good friends and family. Shirley did enjoy sailing on their 23-foot Aquarius until Bob was knocked off by the mast when the wind changed suddenly and she got a crash course in solo sailing. She always looked forward to attending the polka festival in Kimberley, British Columbia, with her sister June and husband Harley Rouleau. Shirley’s absolute favorite activity was spending time with her sisters and their children. She cherished each moment with the many gatherings and parties over the years.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Robert Denevan; parents Francis and Georgie Okeefe; sisters Marjorie Torgerson, Kathryn Hughes and Frances Hammond; brothers Buford Okeefe and Jack Okeefe. Also, nieces Sharon Hemley and Gail Okeefe and nephews Gary Okeefe and Mike Fink.
Shirley is survived by her son Francis and wife Laura; sisters Pat Fink of Juneau, Alaska, and June Rouleau of Spokane.
Special thanks to her nieces Paula Rabey (Scott), Nancy Holmes (David), Denise Brown (Mike), Susan Surby and Cheryl Ann Hefner (Dean) for all the cards, presents, phone calls and visits. She cherished all her nieces, great-nieces, nephews and great-nephews. Thank you so much to Terry Matthews for the hundreds of dinners and deserts you made for the Denevans. We would also like to thank Twin Rivers Senior Living for taking care of Shirley.
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- Tuesday, April 28, 2:00 PM
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