This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8175 Message Board Post: Daily Independent newspaper Ridgecrest Ca Kern County May 12, 2005 SHIRLEY CATHERINE TOOKER 1956-2005 Inyokern resident Shirley Catherine Tooker passed away Tuesday, May 3, 2005. She was 49. A memorial service will be held at St. Ann Church on Monday, May 16 at 1 pm. The family asks in lieu of flowers donations be sent in Shirley's name to The Forbes Norris ALS Research Center, Attn: CPMC Foundation, PO Box 45234, San Francisco, CA 94145. All of her family and friends are invited to a celebration of her life potluck on Friday, May 20 at 6 pm at her home in Inyokern. She always loved a good party and watching people enjoying themselves, this is how she wants to be remembered. Her family says this about her: "Her fight is over. She has gone on to be with her mother and Heavenly Father. Her beravery, spirit and heart were an inspiration to all who w3ere with her during her fight against Lou Lehrig's Disease (ALS) for the past seven years. She finally succumbed to this debilitating disease at 12:20 pm Tuesday at home with her loving husband Jim at her side. Mrs. Tooker was born to Al and Alice Bruno in Willowdale, Toronto, Canada on May 13, 1956. Her family moved to Southern California where she attened school and graduated from Mayfair High School in Lakewood. She moved to the Indian Wells Valley in the 1980s. She worked at First Federal Savings and Loan for many years and then was hired at Guild Mortgage Company where she worked for six years as a loan processor. She married her best friend and soul mate, Jim Tooker on April 25, 1992. In 1999 they moved to Inyokern and started their Grey Feather Ranch, where she and Jim raised African Grey Parrots and was able to pursue her lifetime dream of owning and showing her horse, Rusty. She also loved scuba diving, underwater photography, hiking and 4-wheel drive trips. She loved animals and volunteered through Police and Community Together (PACT) in developing the animal welfare program. She was a member of the Moose Lodge, Chapter 902 in Downey. She was preceded in death by her mother Alice Bruno and her sister Bernice Bruno. She is survived by her loving husband Jim Tooker of Inyokern, step-daughter Shaleen and husband Mark Lambert, granson Trenton and granddaughter Addison of Ridgecrest, in-laws Melvin and Margaret Tooker of Fountain Valley, father Al Bruno of Lakewood, sisters Carol Pentecost and fiancee Bob Eastwood of Maryland, Leslie and husband Scott Lockwood of Descanso, niece Heather and husband Mike McGinn, grand-niece Talley of Sacramento, many family members in Canada and her best friend Darlene Thomas who was always there for her. The family wish to thank all of Shirley's Angels, who gave so freely of their time, energy and resources to ensure that she was able to live at home and her caregivers, both employees and friends, who took care of her so lovingly. Now Shirley is our angel watching over us. The Tooker family sincerely thanks the community of the Indian Wells Valley for their continued support during each year's fundraisers, in donations that continued to enrich Shirley's life at home. Private cremation and arrangements provided by Holland & Lyons Mortuary. Media information provided by the family. News Review newspaper Ridgecrest CA May 11, 2005 SHIRLEY CATHERINE TOOKER Shirley Catherine Tooker of Ridgecrest died May 3, 2005. She was 48. Her fight is finally over and she has gone to be with her mother and Creator our Heavenly Father. Her bravery, spirit and heart were an inspiration to all who were with her during her fight against Lou Gerhig's Disease (ALS) for the past seven years. Shirley finally succumbed to this debilitating disease at 12:20 pm Tuesday afternoon at home with her loving husband Jim at her side. Shirley was born May 13, 1956 to Al and Alice Bruno in Willowdale, Toronto, Canada on May 13, 1959's (sic). Her family moved to Southern California where she attened school. She graduated from Mayfair High School in Lakewood, Calif. Shirley moved to the Indian Wells Valley in the 1980s. She worked at First Federal Savings and Loan for many years and then she was hired at Guild Mortgage Company where she worked for six years. Shirley married her husband, best friend and soul mate Jim Tooker on April 25, 1992. In 1999 they moved to Inyokern and started their Grey Feather Ranch where she and Jim raised African Grey Parrots and she was able to pursue her life time dream of woning and showing her horse Rusty. Shirley also loved scuba diving, underwater photography, hiking and 4-wheel drive trips. Shirley loved animals and volunteered through Police and Community Together in developing the Animal Welfare program. She also was a member of the Moose Lodge, Cahpter 902 in Downey California. Shirley was preceded in death by her mother Alice Bruno and sister Bernice Bruno. She is survived by her loving husband Jim of Inyokern, stepdaughter Shaleen Lambert and husband Mark Lambert, grandson Trenton and granddaughter Addison of Ridgecrest, in-laws Melvin and Margaret Tooker of Fountain Valley, California, father Al Bruno of Lakewood California sisters Carol Pentecost and friend Bob Eastwood of Maryland, Leslie and husband Scott Lockwopod of Descanso, California, niece Heather and husband Mike McGinn and grandniece Talley of Sacramento, California and many family members in Canada and her best friend Darlene Thomas who was always there for her. Additionally the family wants to thank all of Shirley's Angels who gave so freely of their time, energy and resources to assure that Shirley was able to live all of her life at home, her caregivers both employees and friends who took care of her so lovingly. Now Shirley is our angel watching over us. The Tooker family sincerely thanks the community of the Indian Wells Valley for their continued support during each year's fundraisers in donations that continued to enrich Shirley's life at home. A memorial service will be held at Saint Ann's Catholic Church, 446 W. Church Ave. in Ridgecrest on Monday May 16 at 1:00 pm. The family asks in lieu of flowers donations be sent in Shirley's name to the Forbes Norris ALS Research Center, Attn: CPMC Foundation, PO Box 45234, San Francisco CA 94145. All of Shirley's family and friends are invited to a celebration of her life potluck on Friday May 20, 2005 at 6:00 pm at her home in Inyokern. Shirley always loved a good party and watching people enjoying themselves. This is how she wants to be remembered. Private Cremation and Arrangements by Holland & Lyons Mortuary. Submitted by the family of Shirley Tooker