Obituary of Shirley Marie Leahan

Shirley Marie (Koenig) Leahan July 23, 1935 – March 17, 2019 Westbrook and Lexington-Township, Maine We hold in our hearts our beloved mom, grammie, “gram-cracker”, aunt, friend, and Shirley-girl. Shirley Marie Leahan (nee Koenig), 83, of Westbrook and Lexington Township passed away peacefully at home as she wished, surrounded by her children, on March 17, 2019. Shirley was well-loved by all who knew her. Her kind and generous heart touched many. Even when she didn’t have much, she was always willing to share what she had with others. She attracted friends easily with her beautiful smile, contagious laugh and friendly and easygoing demeanor. Those with whom she became close were regularly impressed by her inner strength and independent nature. She was born on July 23, 1935, in Woodbury, New Jersey, to Ora Bishop and Harry Koenig. She was a Woodbury High School graduate, class of 1952. She lived in Wenonah, New Jersey, with first husband Richard Webb and their two children. Life then led her to rural Maine where this city girl fell in love with the comforting sight of the mountains, the sound of wind rustling through the trees, and the marvel of night skies so dark and clear she could see every star. In 1968 she married Newton J. Leahan of Westbrook. They made their home in Westbrook and raised a daughter. When Newt retired, they moved back to Lexington Township full-time. Together, they enjoyed gardening, going to the lake, taking the boat out from Pine Point, and fishing of all kinds - smelting, mackerel and ice fishing. Her working life spanned a wide variety of paths – from camp counselor with the girl scouts, telephone operator in the golden years of Bell Telephone, scooping ice cream at Margies Soda Fountain in Wenonah, to working at Hannaford Grocery in Westbrook. In 1998, she retired from Hannaford in Farmington. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Westbrook and a member with the American Legion Auxiliary throughout much of her life. Her volunteer efforts ranged from rolling bandages for the War effort in Woodbury in the 1940s to organizing a free Christmas shop for families of patients at Togus Veterans Hospital in Augusta. She was an avid reader (good luck finding a book she hadn’t read) and enjoyed word games and puzzles. For years she bowled in a league at West Port Lanes in Westbrook. With her sense of humor and good-natured spirit, many good times were had playing cribbage with husband Newt, beano/bingo anywhere she had the chance, Scrabble with the family, and especially playing Yahtzee and listening to baseball games with her good friend Becky. She created beautiful flower gardens and lovingly cooked for her family – pot roast, corn chowder, beef stew, and lemon meringue pie were favorites. Some of her most favorite times were spent with her three sisters and extended families– laughing, teasing and sharing stories with the Murphy family, the Devine gang and Jones’ girls whenever she had the chance. Shirley leaves behind her three children: Sheri Leahan (Anthony Underwood) of Temple; Robert Webb (Denise) of Dexter; and Cynthia McGeehan (Peter Stacey) of Sebago: grandchildren Carollynne Pray (Steve) of Covington, Georgia, and Robert McGeehan of Sebago; and great-grandson Zachary Pray of Covington, Georgia; dear sisters Ora Emerick of Westbrook and Jeanette Jones of Williamstown, New Jersey; and good friend Becky Carson of Lebanon, Maine. She also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews, her grand dog Tucker, and many special friends. She was predeceased by husband of 30 years, Newton J. Leahan; big sister Anna K. Devine, brother Harry Koenig, granddaughter Elaine McGeehan, and cherished golden-retriever Duke. Shirley’s family expresses our endless thanks for the never-ending kindness of her sister Ora and children Ora Joan (Butch), Alex (Michelle), Michael (Donna), and Joe (Maria) as well as all of her friends at Longfellow Place, for surrounding her with love and care the past three years, allowing her to live the full and independent life as she so wished. She will be greatly missed, but we are at peace knowing her struggle is over and she is breathing easy now. It is Shirley’s wish that she be cremated and her ashes scattered in the mountains. A Celebration of Life gathering is planned for spring. Since she loved animals and was an avid reader, those wishing to make a contribution in her name may make a donation to: Animal Adventure Park – Giraffe Care Fund, 1250 Front Street #219, Binghamton, NY 13901 Friends of the Woodbury Public Library, 33 Delaware Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096, or online at https://squareup.com/market/friends-of-the-woodbury-public-library/ Please note the gift is in memory of Shirley Leahan on the memo line or in the notes field upon checkout. Arrangements by Direct Cremation of Maine.