Shirley Ericson-Schmitt, affectionately known as "Grummy" to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, passed away on April 7th to congestive heart failure. She was born to John and Millie Gaub in Fertile, IA and spent her childhood and young adult life in Yakima, WA. Shortly after giving birth to her two children, Jeff and Marsha, she moved to Tucson, Arizona where she met and married Duane Ericson who also adopted Jeff and Marsha as his own children. Shirley is survived by her children and their spouses, Jeff & Jodi Ericson and Marsha & Rusty Cutbirth; her grandchildren and their spouses, Dan & Minette Ericson, Destiny & TJ Fittis, and Brandon & Brittany Ericson; and her 9 (soon to be 10) great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her current husband, Al Schmitt.

Shirley, an entrepreneur, owned "The Gopher Hole," a small antique store in Tucson which she opened in 1975 and ran for over 20 years. She was also a supportive wife to Duane who ran his own business, Reproductions Inc. She also took on the responsibility of helping raise her grandson, Dan. Both Duane and Shirley were active in their church and raised their family with a Christian belief and moral system. When Duane and Shirley both retired from their businesses, they bought a summer home in Stanwood, WA. Duane passed away while their new home was being built on Camano Island, WA. A few years after moving to the new Camano Island home, Shirley met Al Schmitt and they were married on one of her visits to Tucson.

Shirley is always remembered by friends and family for her overly generous nature and rare kindness. She was a strong person that would often take her friends' and family members' struggles on herself. She was always willing to make a meal or give up a bed in her home to ensure someone else was taken care of. Her life exemplified a strong faith in Jesus Christ, which she held most dear while here on earth. One of her proudest legacies is that her son and daughter and their children follow Christ to this day building on the example she set and taught.

Shirley is to be buried on Camano Island at the Camano Island Lutheran Cemetery next to Duane. Due to COVID-19, a memorial service cannot happen at this time but will be planned once it is safe to do so. In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to Samaritan's Purse, an organization that Shirley supported herself and believed strongly in ( https://www.samaritanspurse.org/ ).