Charlotte Shirley

Charlotte Shirley, of Duluth died Friday October 20,2017 at home with her family by her side and is is now at peace with her Creator. Heaven gained a wonderful woman after her 92 years on earth. Char was born in East Grand Forks, ND on 10/18/25 to Agnes and Charles Brantl. She graduated from Sacred Heart High school in 1943. She went on to the College of St. Benedict's in St. Joseph, MN and received her bachelor's degree in 1949.

Following graduation, she took additional classes at the University of North Dakota and went on to teach biology in Milnor, Mandan and Grand Forks, ND. Char married Dr. Ray Shirley on September 29 ^th , 1956 in East Grand Forks. They moved to Duluth in 1960 and raised 6 children.

Char had a deep and abiding faith and was a member of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary. She was truly a selfless individual who strived to make the world a better place. She treated family and friends as company and company as family.

She volunteered at St. Scholastica Priory, Miller Trunk Veterinary clinic until her vision failed her. She was grateful to the Services to the Blind who enabled her to adapt the way she took in information and performed daily living skills. Even with her visual limitations, nobody could roll out lefse more perfectly than Char. She also served on the former medical auxiliary board and volunteered as a special topics teacher at Holy Rosary school. She enjoyed being a prior member of the Kitch Gammi Club. Her interests were estates sales, gardening, the outdoors and attending Bible study. Her optimism, faith, devotion to family and friends and being a role model to all will be missed. Though her body gave out, she never did. We hope that her legacy lives on in others. Be at peace our friend; we love you.

She is now reunited with her husband Ray, parents Charlie and Agnes Brantl, sister Darlene Larson, brother Ardel Brantl and infant twin brothers Gerald and Jerome.

Children are Michael (Abby) Jean (Mark Serre), Ann (John Stattelman), Patricia (Bernard Wenzel), David and John (Shelly). Grandchildren are Lisa LeFaive, Steve, Chris, Katie Wenzel, Erik and Sarah Shirley, Abe and Ben Serre and great granddaughter Gemma.

Visitation will be Sunday from 5-7pm in the Dougherty Funeral Home.  Visitation will continue Monday from 10am to the 11am Mass at Christian Burial at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, 2801 E 4 ^th St. Duluth.  Memorials are preferred and may be directed to The State Services for the Blind, 320 W 2 ^nd St. Duluth, MN  55802 or the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, 2801 E 4 ^th St. Duluth, MN.   Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2 ^nd St. Duluth, (218) 727-3555.