Shirley Mae Digges, 91 of San Ardo passed away January 1, 2017.  She was born in King City on July 19th, 1925. She was the first child of Nellie and George Cavalli. She was later joined by her 3 siblings - Elden, Helen, and Patty. She was raised in the Lockwood/San Ardo area and continued to reside there for most of her life. She went to King City High School with her husband Leon. They were married on Halloween day in 1952 and continued to be married for over half a century. Together they raised four children - Diana, Richard, Debra and Kenneth.

Shirley loved the simple pleasures in life. Her family, knitting, ceramics and, of course, watching her soaps. In fact, she would often schedule appointments around making sure she could watch them. She loved playing bingo and most of all laughing and dancing and celebrating any occasion she could. She and Leon were active in the Morro Bay Eagles and considered Morro Bay a second home, where she especially enjoyed attending the Morro Bay Jazz Festival.  She was also a huge animal lover and spoiled her pets endlessly with special food and treats. Even in her final days her dog, Sally, was her top concern and she made sure she left music playing for her when she was out, so she wouldn't be lonely.

But more than anything, Shirley loved being home with her family. She loved a full house and never complained about visitors. In fact, when a recent wildfire forced her children to vacate and stay with her, she was absolutely thrilled to have them home. Nothing brought her more joy then visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren and she absolutely lit up when talking about them. Despite being 91 years young, Shirley was sharp as a tack behind those mischievous, sparkling eyes.  She loved to laugh and it is hard to find a picture of her where she is not cracking up and looking at one of her family members with pride.

When she passed, Shirley had 6 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. This in itself is an impressive legacy, but the size of the Digges family is nowhere near the most impressive thing about them.

The magic of the Digges family is that they welcome everyone with open arms. Whether it is a Christmas party with dinner around the decorated pool table or a New Years party full of laughter and dancing, the Digges home is a refuge for everyone. Show up anytime, day or night, and you will be fed, you will be listened to, most likely laughed at, and most of all, you will leave feeling so loved. That is Shirley's legacy.  She made each and every one of us feel loved and like we belonged.

Shirley experienced many losses in her long life - the loss of her brother, her husband and the devastating loss of her son Kenny, taken from us much too soon. This type of loss can change a person, can make even the strongest of us close off and turn inward, but not Shirley. Shirley never let the sadness in life stop her from opening her heart to anyone that came in her path.

Shirley taught us to love unconditionally, care deeply, and to bring humor to any situation.  And so now we go on to honor the life Shirley led … A life that was full of hope, happiness, laughter, and love...through good times as well as in bad.   This is the way we will always remember Shirley ...that she lived her life as an example to each and every person she met that love is an action, not just a feeling.

A Funeral Service was held on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Eddington Funeral Services Chapel.  Graveside interment followed in the King City District Cemetery.