Shirley M. Embody

Shirley Marie Embody, age 87, passed away on April 13, 2017 of natural causes at her home in Waynesville, North Carolina . A memorial service will be held Sat, June 24th at 11:00 am in the Pondera Funeral Home, Conrad, MT with burial to follow at Hillside Cemetery. A native of Conrad,MT, Shirley was the daughter of Carl M. and Anna Pfeiffer Embody. The youngest of twelve children, she enjoyed the love and attention given to her by her older sisters and brothers. Shirley graduated from Conrad High School in 1948 and that same year enrolled at Montana State University in Missoula graduating in 1952 with a Degree in Journalism. Upon graduation, she accepted a position with the Whitman County Gazette newspaper in Colfax, WA. After several years, she went to work for the Sentinel newspaper in  Santa Cruz, CA. After a time, she accepted a position with the American Embassy as a US Civil Service employee, serving in Bangkok, Thailand working within the Embassy's Communication Center. In the ensuing years, Shirley continued working for the American Embassies in Washington, DC, London, and Paris, thus fulfilling her dreams of world travel. Upon retiring from the Civil Service, she settled in Malaga, Spain and spent several years in the real estate business. She returned to the US, living in New York City from 1981 through 1994, working with stock investment profiles. It was during this time, she spent one year living and studying in India.

In 1994, Shirley and dear friend, Ann Mitchell Coley, built a dual Deltec pod home in the mountains near Waynesville, NC. They continued traveling throughout the world with long-time friends. Her trips included Greece, Rome, Copen Hagen, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Tangier, Spain,  Egypt, and the list went on. Throughout her travels, she never forgot to send letters back to her family in Montana and various states. They treasured her corrrespondence! Family was more important than anything else and she came 'home' to visit every year. She loved her birthplace and always enjoyed reminiscing and catching up with family rather than talking about her life and her adventures. Shirley was a loving and caring aunt and her Embody humor and laughter will be remembered,as well as her unique hand-writing.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Hattie, Margaret, Verna, Stella, Anna Pearl, Bonnie, Eily Jean; brothers, Carl, Arlie, Emmet, Orbie and her dear friend and companion, Ann Mitchell Coley. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the US. The family would like to thank Diane Giermek, her friend and caretaker for over 15 years, Mountain Home Health Care, Dr. Vanessa Clark, Hospice Care Partners and Wells Funeral Home in Waynesville, NC. Memorials in Shirley's honor can be made to: Sarge's Animal Rescue Foundation, 256 Industrial Park Dr, Waynesville, NC 28786 where her beloved pets, Lucy and Lulu, were adopted. "By love they are remembered and in memory they live."