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Shirley Pierson, age 70 of Winthrop, passed away Thursday, October 16, 2008, at the Winthrop Good Samaritan Center in Winthrop. Funeral Service was Saturday, October 18, 2008, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop, with interment in the Winthrop Cemetery. The Rev. James Snyder officiated.

Shirley Ann (Gorr) Pierson was born on July 21, 1938, in Sibley Township, Sibley County. She was the daughter of Alex and Sophia (Martin) Gorr. Shirley was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed in her faith as a youth, at Zion Lutheran Church in Winthrop. She received her education in Winthrop, and was a graduate of the Winthrop High School with the class of 1956.

On October 28, 1956, Shirley was united in marriage to Merlyn Pierson at Zion Lutheran Church in Winthrop. The couple resided a short time in New Ulm before moving to the farm site in Bernadotte Township, Nicollet County. They moved to the Winthrop area in 1981. Shirley was a loving mother and homemaker. The couple was blessed with five children and they shared 51 years of marriage.

Shirley was a member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop.

Shirley’s passion was her family. She enjoyed crocheting beautiful afghans for her family. She also enjoyed collecting music boxes, cooking and baking.

When she needed assistance with her daily care, Shirley became a resident of the Winthrop Good Samaritan Center on August 22, 2008.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Merlyn Pierson of Winthrop; children, LeAnn Werner and her husband, Lester of Winthrop, Judy Ross and her husband, Dwayne of Winthrop, Kelly Pierson and his wife, Sandra of Winthrop, Sandra Schlueter and her husband, Glen of Arlington, and Richard Pierson and his wife, Kelly Jean of Sanborn; grandchildren, Wade Werner and his wife, Jennifer of Gibbon, Jarod Werner of Mound, Bethany Werner of Mankato, Jason Ross of Winthrop, Mia Ross of Winthrop, Andrew Pierson of Bemidji, Jon Pierson of Winthrop, Lauren Henke of Mankato, Samantha Henke of rural Arlington, Lon Henke of rural Arlington, Collin Pierson of Sanborn, Jeremy Pierson of Sanborn, and Megan Pierson of Sanborn; great-grandchildren, Brooklyn and Lincoln Werner of Gibbon; brother, Richard Gorr and his wife, Betty of Glencoe; sisters-in-law, Carol Gorr of Waconia, and Ruthie Gorr of Winthrop; brothers-in-law, Derald Briese of Gibbon, Orville Pioske of rural Le Sueur, and Albert Meyer, Jr. of Gaylord; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Alex and Sophia Gorr; her siblings and their spouses, Marie Gorr and her husband, Albert, Elsie Pioske, Delores Briese, and Dorothy Pollei and her husband, Mike; brothers, Fred Gorr and his wife, Shirley, Gottlieb Gorr and his wife, Hilda, Rudy Gorr, Harvey Gorr; siblings in infancy, Ernest and Betty Mae; and sister-in-law, Phyllis Meyer.

Honorary casket bearers were Bethany Werner, Lauren Henke, Samantha Henke, Megan Pierson, and Mia Ross.

Casket bearers were grandsons, Wade Werner, Jarod Werner, Andrew Pierson, Jon Pierson, Collin Pierson, Jeremy Pierson, Lon Henke, and Jason Ross.