Shirley Annella Cmolik died Friday, June 9 in her Mesa Arizona residence. Shirley was born August 18, 1938 in Jerome Idaho to Ralph and Thelma Sturges. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family, preceded in death by sisters Sharon (Johnson) and Sheryl (Dannelley), and brother William Sturges.
The Sturges family moved to Arizona in the 1950s, and Shirley graduated from Mesa High School in 1956 and married Ronald Lee Lenhart the same year. They lived a nomadic Air Force life, having firstborn Sheri Lynn (Emard) in Maine before returning to Arizona to have daughter Stephanie Lee (Fischer) and son Steven Michael Lenhart. Shirley worked as an Administrative Assistant for Salt River Project, a bookkeeper and office manager.
Later in life, Shirley married Robert Cmolik, who would remain her loyal partner for over 25 years until his death in 2019.
Shirley had a razor-sharp wit and acute awareness of the world around her. She was a constant online companion to myriad friends and family, who were often surprised by the technical ability of this intelligent, ornery and stubborn 84-year-old.
In person, Shirley never met a stranger whose story she didn’t want to hear. She would befriend entire shifts of care providers, often remembering their names, their children’s names and endless details of their lives after only one or two short visits.
She volunteered at Banner Baywood hospital for years, driven by her desire to help people in challenging circumstances. She was a fiercely loyal neighbor and friend that loved visiting her street’s residents, her Monday card games with “the Girls” and even slamming down a few happy hour margaritas when she thought it necessary. She was tirelessly social and endlessly entertaining.
In lieu of flowers, Shirley asked that donations be made to the Hospice of the Valley. They are incredible people doing important and difficult work, and her family is eternally grateful for their help and support. Shirley requested that no services be held. Her ashes were returned to nature in the Superstition Mountains in Mesa, joining those of her husband Bob and brother Bill.
I will be forever grateful to have gotten to know this wonderful older cousin of mine. Knowing she dealt with pain every day made her uplifting & sometimes humourous posts all the more endearing. She loved freely & was so very easy to love in return. We will have much to catch up on when we meet once again in heaven my dear cousin!
When my Dad married Annella in 1991, I gained the sister I never had, but always wanted. She was such a loving and kind person, we hit it off immediately. Whenever I would be coming down to Mesa for a visit, I would always ask Annella to get with Shirley and lets have a beer and pizza night. Some of the best dinners I ever had. Shirley was an absolutely special person and I will miss her greatly. Especially the beer and pizza.
I Loved my dear cousin Shirley I will greatly miss her!!! She brought such joy to me and many others , she had away to make me laugh and smile😁 she would often times make my day if she wasn’t making me laugh she was inspiring me We talked of things both of Heaven and earth she shared with me of her testimony of Our Dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whom she very much Loved It gives me great peace to know she is with him and her family at this time m. I miss her and will look forward to the time we can hug each other again