On Tuesday, Dec 12, 2023, Shirley Ann Pitts (neé Humphrey), loving wife and mother, passed away at age 76. Shirley was an employee of San Ramon Valley Unified School District for 27 years at Golden View Elementary: first in food service, then as a paraeducator, and later serving in the School Office. She was highly regarded by the Principals she served under and was beloved by all that met her from the teaching and classified staff, the students, and parents. She formed deep friendships with a few of the staff and had fun going to local casinos.

Shirley was born in Victoria, Tx, June 17, 1947, to Gabriela (Gomez) and Albert Humphrey, the third to seven siblings. In the 1970s, Shirley and her cousin, Alice, headed to Houston in their Twenties for bigger opportunities. She met her husband, Robert, while working at the Gulf Oil finance department. Not long after his first offer of taking her out for a burger lunch, they got married on Dec 7, 1974. They had four children together, Robert Jr, Nathan, Courtney and Christopher. While Courtney passed at birth in 1982, she raised her three sons seeing them grow into fine adults. In addition, she had four grandchildren - Robert Allen, William, Hadley and Avery - who were loved and blessed by Shirley’s generous spirit and love of gifting. With her husband, Shirley had the good fortune of being able to take her family all over the world: living in Papua New Guinea, Nigeria, and Canada, and settling in San Ramon, Ca. She learned to SCUBA off the coast of New Guinea and in the Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, she got to see the amazing sights of Hawai'i, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Kenya, England, Scotland, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Mexico, Alaska and Nova Scotia. She would later visit her eldest in Uppsala, Sweden, when he was an exchange student. Shirley had an adventurous spirit, and enjoyed her travels later in life with just her husband, especially driving the Southwest to Texas. Shirley loved expressing her creativity and personality through art and collecting. Her artistic endeavors included furniture decorating, latch hook, cross-stitching, porcelain painting, beading, and quilting. Most of these activities she learned while traveling abroad and in art groups with other expat spouses, forming strong friendships. Her passions grew to where her household would have her own personal collections on walls and display cases of porcelain plates and tea sets, spoons, a beloved rocking chair, carvings, shells, baskets, bronze sculptures, necklaces, earrings, strings of beads, and quilts that represent her variety of talents and the cultures she got to experience. Artwork from her children and grandchildren also adorn her home.

Shirley volunteered her time at her children’s school or their interests. In Papua New Guinea, she worked at the “tuk shop” or school store selling drinks, snacks and school gear, and trying Vegemite for the first time (and not liking it). In California and Nigeria, she was a Den Leader and Scout Leader for her sons’ units. She worked at Valley Christian when her youngest attended preschool. She also served as Band Booster President for her two youngest sons’ high school band activities when at California High School. Among all that knew Shirley, she was best known for her smile, her generosity, her sincere kindness, and her loyalty. She always made others feel welcome to her home and family no matter where she was.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents and her sister Sophia Ibarra. She is survived by her husband; sons; daughters-in-law Christian and Amelia; her four grandchildren; sisters Susan Humphrey, Peggy Humphrey & Gene Walker; brothers Henry Humphrey & Albert Humphrey; sisters-in-law Vicki Humphrey & Liliam Humphrey; nephews Eloy Garcia, Elliot Humphrey, Clinton Humphrey, and Brent Humphrey; nieces Melanie Thorson, Lara Biggins, Belinda Garcia, Brandi Humphrey & Kelly Humphrey; grand-nephews Caleb Garcia, Jonathan Garcia, Alexander Walker, Hudson Humphrey & Austin Humphrey; and grand-nieces Hannah Garcia, Addy Humphrey, Savannah Humphrey & Kennedy Humphrey.

A Celebration of Life will be held in San Ramon by her immediate family with her school and community friends after the Holidays. She will then be taken home to Victoria, Tx, for a burial Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church amongst all her family. Finally, she will be interred at Victoria Catholic Cemetery, where her parents, sister, daughter and other family have been laid to rest. In lieu of giving flowers, the family asks that those who are able instead make a donation to the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation, Scouting BSA, California High School Band Boosters, American Cancer Society, or any other charity of your choice.harity of your choice.