Date of Birth: September 12, 1935
Date of Death: October 11, 2023
We celebrate the full life of Shirley May Hudson (Stebleton), age 88, formerly of Westerville, Ohio. She was the beloved wife of the late Carl Hudson and most recently the enduring companion of Gordon Bickle; loving mother to daughters Sheila (Angelo) Espinoza and Shelly (Tim) Martin and stepsons Terry (Diane) Hudson, Eddy (Susie) Hudson, David (John) Hudson, and the late stepson Larry Hudson; grandmother of eight; great grandmother to one; dear sister to Calvin (Mary Ann) Stebleton, four deceased Stebleton brothers Eldon (Marie), Brian, Virgil (Mary), and Melvin; and fond aunt of many nieces and nephews. Shirley was born in rural southern Ohio to Russel and Virginia Stebleton of German heritage. The family had a poultry farm providing eggs and poultry products to the local community. Shirley’s mother died when she was sixteen years old. She learned early on how to be resourceful, hardworking, and creative in many ways. Carl and Shirley were married in 1963 and moved to the Columbus suburb of Westerville. They blended two families within a vibrant and friendly neighborhood in the Ohioan traditions. Later, to take advantage of Arizona’s healing climate, the couple with their six children moved to Glendale, Arizona in 1973. She found work as a lead waitress at a trendy coffeeshop, Huck Fins. Later Carl was tapped by the Alcoa Corporation to work in its Venezuela plant to which Shirley’s sense of adventure supported the couple’s bold move to Venezuela. Upon returning to Arizona, she operated a commercial and residential cleaning business and butler services for two longstanding clients for many years. Shirley was fun, witty, at times sassy and her infections laugh would light up a room (sometimes like a firecracker!). Her repertoire of cooking made for the best holiday spreads in the backdrop of her elegantly decorated home. She loved to peruse through the Sunday morning paper, kept up on current events, and had an opinion that often collided with yours but made the moments real and cherished. The home she made for her family will truly be missed.
Service Information
A Celebration of Life will be held in the chapel at Best Funeral Services on 501 E. Dunlap Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85020 on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at 10 a.m. A luncheon will be hosted afterwards at the home of Gordon Bickle, 7733 E Buena Terra Way Scottsdale, Arizona 85250, 11:30 a.m. for family and friends.
Contributions
Let us take a moment to reflect on the many ways Shirley touched our lives and with honor, grace, and love, celebrate this fabulous woman. In lieu of flowers a donation in honor of Shirley can be made to Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/ .