Shirley A. (Spainhour) Polich

Shirley A. (Spainhour) Polich, 88, of Canton, passed away, Saturday, April 24, 2021, at 7:11 a.m. at Renaissance Care Center in Canton.

She was born on September 2, 1932 to Clarence and Lucille (Lawver) Spainhour.

Shirley married Jim Polich on December 24, 1952 and they later were divorced. She is preceded in death by both parents, one sister Wilma (Spainhour) Carter, one great great granddaughter, and her two beloved poodle dogs, Buffy and Buffy two.

Left behind to remember and celebrate the gift that her life was to all of them, are six children. They are Kathy (Ron) Rhodes of Kansas City, Sue (Al Lyons) Bohanan of Canton, Tony Polich of Peoria, Steve (Mary Tomlianovich) Polich of Canton, Lisa (Polich) Franklin of Lakewood Colorado, and Eric Polich of Kewanee. In addition, Shirley will be deeply missed by her ten grandchildren, seventeen great grandkids, five great great grandchildren, one brother-in-law. Joe Carter of Springfield and one nephew, Tod (Judy) Carter of Glendale Heights.

Shirley's legacy is her history of loving, caring for and providing for the six children she raised, all of whom became loving, responsible, and productive assets to their respective communities. She was a loyal and devoted friend to many and was an active member of a neighborhood group known as "the club". Several of her high school friends remained close over the years and enjoyed dining out together, going to sporting events, attending church, playing cards and dominoes, and boasting of the achievements of kids and grandkids. Shirley bowled for many years in a women's league.

She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and of the Canton Chapter of LY PEO. She worked in the daycare center at the YWCA, and later became a YWCA bookkeeper, the position from which she retired in December 1994. Shirley was also a gifted seamstress and served as "personal tailor" to many in Canton, providing custom mending, sewing and alterations services for decades. Shirley was a dedicated fan and supporter of Canton's Little Giants and loved going to games to see her grandchildren compete and listening to WBYS on the radio when she could not attend in person. She was a lifelong, unrepentant Chicago Cubs fan, enduring the decades of despair and then sharing that brief moment of glory in 2016.

Shirley was a remarkable woman, and a blessing to all who knew her. She raised six good kids, who are now raising many more good kids, and she will be remembered and loved by all of them, forever.

Shirley had never believed she had done "enough" but her legacy will persist through all those good kids and is one for which she can be very proud.

Private services for the family will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.

To leave online condolence's please visit;www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com