Shirley F. Buell

CABOT, PA - Shirley Buell, 98, of Cabot, PA, formerly of Athol, passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at Concordia Lutheran Ministries Ortal Assisted Living Center. Shirley was born October 29, 1917 in Lowell, Mass., the daughter of Harry L. and Ruth E. (Ward) Woodman. Shirley was active in the Girl Scouts and earned their highest award, the Golden Eaglet, in 1936. She graduated from Lowell High School in 1935 and Lowell Business School in 1937. During World War II, she worked at the Army Hospital on Fort Devens where she met her first husband, Capt. Robert G. Roy. During his military service, they lived in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Germany, and Virginia. Upon his retirement in 1957, they settled in Athol. Robert G. Roy died in 1966, and in 1979, she married Harry C. Buell, and moved to Petersham. Harry Buell died in 2002. In 2008 she moved to West Virginia with her son and his family. In 2010, she moved to Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot, Pennsylvania, living next door to her sister, Janice. She worked at military hospitals at Fort Devens, Mass.; Butler, Pennsylvania; and Stuttgart, Germany. After she moved to Athol, she worked at the former Minute Tapioca plant in Orange, and Athol Memorial Hospital. She was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Athol, where she was a Lay Eucharistic Minister, vestry person, youth leader, as well as newsletter publisher. Mrs. Buell served on the board of directors for the former Peoples Bridge Action and worked on the polls and voter registration in Petersham. An avid reader, she enjoyed sewing, embroidery, quilting, flower gardening and rug braiding. She was predeceased by her husbands, Robert G. Roy and Harry C. Buell and her sister, Janice Farmer. Mrs. Buell is survived her son, AVCM Robert A. Roy of Paw Paw, West Virginia; her grandson, Robert W. Roy of Wexford, Pennsylvania; three step­sons, David Buell of North Sullivan, Maine, Larry Buell of Petersham, and Charles Buell of Petersham. She has three great­grand children. Calling hours will be held Friday, April 29, 2016 from 7-9 P.M. in Higgins –O’Connor Funeral Home, with a Resurrection Mass at 10 A.M. on Saturday, April 30, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Athol. Burial will follow in Jones Cemetery in Orange. In lieu of flowers please send donations to St. John’s Property Improvement Fund, 15 Park Avenue, Athol, MA 01331.