Shirley L. Thorne, 87, passed on October 17, 2014.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard C. Thorne, her brother Stephen L. Lloyd, and her sister-in-law Mary Jane Lloyd. She is survived by her three nieces: Claudia L. (John) Berry, Susan L. (Steve) Huffstutler, and Lucinda L. (Michael) Robson.

Shirley attended Colby College in Maine from September 1943 through June 1947 and obtained her bachelor’s degree. She attended Teachers’ College at Columbia University from September 1947 through June 1949 and obtained her master’s degree.  Shirley was granted a sabbatical during the school year of 1960 and 1961 in order to study at Harvard and received a certificate of advanced studies.

She taught social studies at the Edith Baker School in the early 1960s. She transferred to the Edward Devotion School to become the lower grades guidance counselor, retiring in the early 1990s.

Shirley traveled throughout the US as well as England, France, and Canada. She lived in Bay Village in Sarasota, Florida, and also had a second home on Flaghole Road in Andover.

She will be remembered most by her family and friends for her smart, engaging, and vibrant personality. She was particularly good at welcoming and mentoring newer and younger staff members. She knew the importance of a strong school community and worked (and played) to enhance that community.

Many children and their parents benefited over the years from Shirley’s empathy and skilled counseling. Those skills extended to her work with the rest of us. We all benefited from her positive outlook, her buoyancy, her observations about child behavior and human nature in general, and her wonderful sense of humor.

A celebration of Shirley’s life will be held in the summer of 2015 in New Hampshire.

Contributions in memory of Shirley may be made to Hearth, Ending Elder Homelessness, 1640 Washington Street,  Boston MA 02118. To view a guest book, visit BellODeaFuneralHome.com.