1935 to 2024
Shirley Barney
Shirley M. (Morton) (Carlyon) passed at her family home on September 4, 2024 in Seattle, WA in Ballard at age 89.
Born June 4th 1935 to Clara Jane Francis Kirner and Robert Joseph Morton in Philadelphia, PA. Both parents were from London, England. She had an older brother Robert Joseph Morton Jr. (Bob) who was 7 years older.
As a child she survived measles, German measles (rubella), chicken pox and scarlet fever twice (strep throat), and pneumonia. With both scarlet fever infections, she was admitted into the contagious hospital to protect her family at home which gave her a sense of independence that she carried throughout her life.
Shirley spent her summers in Bridgeport, CN with her Godmother, Auntie Florence, a family friend. It was in the Atlantic Ocean she learned to swim, steal Lobsters from the fisherman’s traps and swim with the Dolphins.
Growing up in Philly she acquired a love of Cheese Steak Sandwiches, street pretzels and Cheesecake.
She attended Frankford High School graduating in 1954. She excelled in math, setting the stage for various bookkeeping opportunities throughout her life.
She had a wonderful singing voice and loved musicals! She knew the words to most of the popular songs of her generation and was frequently complimented on her ability to “carry a tune”. She loved to hit the dance floor- early in life with the big bands and later in life jitter bugging to country and western!
She met Arthur E. Carlyon in Philly in 1956 during his last few months of service in the Navy. Soon after the couple moved to Butte, Mt where they were married in 1957, her mom Clara also moved to Montana to be near her daughter. It was an adjustment moving from a big city but she made the most of it by being an active part of the community joining various organizations and clubs. With her slender 5’11 frame she was probably the best dressed girl in town. She was creative at sewing her clothes since it was hard to find a good selection for her height.
Shirley and Arthur adopted 2 children, Butchie and Barbara. Butchie passed unexpectedly early on at the age of 3 ½ years old creating a deep void that lasted a lifetime. In appreciation for the excellent care that Silver Bow General Hospital gave to Butchie, Shirley volunteered to dress up as Mrs. Santa Claus during Christmas time to distribute presents to children hospitalized there. She continued this volunteer work for several years.
Other activities she enjoyed while living in Butte were directing the Children’s Choir at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, working at the Butte Senior Center and volunteering for the Blind Association.
She was a member of the Buttle Figure Skating Club where she was known to lace up her skates and lend a helping hand on the ice for ice skating shows. She even performed as a clown one year making people laugh.
She and Arthur divorced after 24 years of marriage at which time she started a new adventure in Bozeman, Mt. She worked at Hillcrest Retirement Home as executive secretary, and acquired her real estate license on the side. There wasn’t much she wouldn’t try.
She began working at Northern Energy Propane Company from which she retired in 1997. She adored her job as office manager. She never complained about having to fill portable propane tanks or crawling under RV’s unless it was below zero outside. She loved the people she worked with and had lots of stories to tell, for example she had Ted Turner and Jane Fonda as clients at their Montana ranch. She had fond memories and lasting relationships from this time in her life.
She tired of shoveling snow and loaded up her car to move farther West to Seattle, WA. She settled in the Ballard neighborhood to be closer to her daughter. From 1999 to 2013 she built another career at Hiram M. Chittenden’s Locks gift shop working up to a position as manager. She formed strong relationships along the way and loved talking to travelers as they passed through the visitor center.
Shirley took great pride in her various jobs and successes as a career woman, and finally retiring at age 78. Throughout her life, she traveled back to Philly, to England twice and back to Montana to keep in contact with friends and relatives. She was always up for an adventure.
If you ever talked to Shirley you were well aware of the fact that the pride and joy of her life were her grandchildren, Pierluca and Simona Carnovale. She was a big part of their lives providing childcare early on. She kept in close contact with both, giving Pierluca notecards to send updates home after leaving for college. The family chihuahua Gigi was pure love to her and in her last moments gave her comfort. And she especially enjoyed her son-in law Pasquale’s pasta.
She always strived to make people happy, loved contributing her time and energy and had a big heart. She enjoyed life to the fullest and made sure her daughter and grandchildren did as well.
Shirley is survived by her daughter Barbara (Pasquale) Carnovale, grandchildren Pierluca and Simona Carnovale all of Seatte, WA., cousin Barbara (Duncan) Marshall of Linton Cambridgeshire, England, additional cousins in England, and nieces and nephews in Philadelphia, PA.
Preceded in death by her mother, father, and brother, and her children baby Carlyon and son Butchie Carlyon.
A memorial service will be held at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks Theater in the Visitor Center on December 10th, 2024, at 2pm.
Shirley will be laid to rest alongside her son Butchie in Butte, Mt.
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.