Shirley Mae Wigren The family of Shirley Mae Wigren is sad

Shirley Mae Wigren The family of Shirley Mae Wigren is sad to announce her death on February 3, 2025, in Albuquerque. She was 97 years old. Shirley was born in Mankato, Minnesota, the second of three children to Irene and Walter Larson. Shirley enjoyed a lovely childhood in Mankato and had happy memories of riding bikes to the pool during the humid Minnesota summers with her siblings. She had many adventures with her older sister, Sylvia, and younger brother Bruce. The three spent time together in Minnesota, New Mexico and Florida, where Sylvia resided in her retirement. In 1971, Shirley moved from Minneapolis to Albuquerque with her husband and children. Shirley was athletic, and skied into her early 80s, particularly enjoying the slopes of Angel Fire and Utah. However, tennis was her true calling. She was regionally ranked in New Mexico and the greater Southwest, attending the Senior Olympics many times, before retiring at 85. Shirley had a major impact on community tennis programs in Albuquerque, and devoted countless volunteer hours in various capacities to the Community Tennis Association, which works to increase participation in tennis by providing programs and events for people of all ages and abilities. Shirley was also an accomplished bridge player, hosting gatherings at her home for decades, when the ladies still smoked inside. Her kids knew there had been a bridge party by the smoke lingering when they arrived home from school. Shirley was a charter member of Tanoan Country Club and finally retired from her beloved Tanoan bridge group in 2024. She also spent many delightful hours playing tennis at Tanoan with her friends in various tennis leagues. In the '70s and '80s, Shirley was instrumental in producing and starring in the Albuquerque Press Club's yearly "Gridiron" variety show and fundraiser. She also enjoyed spending time every summer with her family at the well-loved old white house in Big Lake, Minnesota, that her father-in-law built. Shirley met her first husband, John, (former KOAT newscaster Johnny Morris) at the radio station in Mankato where they both worked. They married in 1946 and had six children. Their marriage spanned thirty-five loving, eventful years, and their friendship until John's death in 2020, at 96. On her 65th birthday Shirley married Eric Thor McCrossen, a long-time journalist and editor of the Albuquerque Journal Editorial page. Shirley and Eric enjoyed thirty-one wonderful years together, until his death in 2015, at 82. Shirley loyally cared for Eric in his decline and was proud he died at home holding her hand. Shirley lost several loved ones over the years. Her parents, sister Sylvia and brother Bruce pre-deceased her. Daughter Jodie Wigren died of cancer in 2021. Son-in-law, Danny Snyder died in 2010, and step-daughter, Celia Klaus, in 2022. Shirley's five remaining children and spouses, Christy Campbell, Peggy and Tom Wilcox, Tom and Julie Wigren, Susie Snyder and Leah Wigren, deeply loved and mourn her. Stepdaughters Jeanne Neill, Cyndy McCrossen and Kai Ryan loved Shirley and rue her passing. Sisters-in-law June Larson, Macon McCrossen and Zelda McCrossen and six nieces and nephews cherished her and will miss her. Nine grandchildren, Aja Witt, Anthony Berg, Andrea Mayer, Adam Berg, Kelly Dickmann, Katelyn Crosswhite, Li Velonis, Tom Snyder and John Snyder, plus ten great-grandchildren, loved and survive her. Shirley also loved Eric's wonderful grandchildren. In the last several years she enjoyed many walks and happy-hours with her neighbors, Beverly and Fred Hodgson and Toni Lavery, who loved her and were so good to her. Shirley had a sparkly smile and eyes that turned bluer the older she got. She enjoyed a gin and tonic and kept a daily diary from a teen until she was 97, which helped settle many questions over the years about what happened, to who, where, and when. We raise a glass to your wonderful life, Mom, and feel so lucky you were ours.