Shirley Jo Gardenhire was born in Wilcox, Arizona on January 2nd, 1951. She was one of six children: William (Dolo) J. Gardenhire, Anne (Larry) Hunt, our mother, Tom (Sarah) Gardenhire, Kaye Hunt, and Becky Bush. She was preceded in death by her parents William J. Gardenhire, Sr., and Hazel Martin.
She joined the U.S. Air Force shortly after high school, and was stationed at Riverside, CA, and Tucson AZ, before leaving the service. She married Gilbert M. Ubert, Sr., and had three children with him: Gilbert (Darla) M. Ubert, Jr., Sydney (Andrew) Kossowski, and Siobhan (Michael) Alvarez. They parted ways, and Shirley Jo met William Lawson, with whom she had a child, Lara Baker (née Martin). Shirley Jo also had three children with her second husband, Alan J. Greene: Justin (Becca) Ubert, Sabrina Greene, and Gillian (Bryan) Greene.
Shirley Jo had a great lust for life, a wonderful and crude sense of humor, and loved to learn about different cultures. Close friends called her Jo and she worked very hard throughout her life in a variety of clerk and management positions. She also had a burgeoning cake business at one point, making custom cakes for the important times in people’s lives. She was a self-described “green thumb” who enjoyed gardening, with a love of marigolds, tulips, hydrangeas, and pansies. She had a great love for God and was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
There are too many stories to tell about this feisty, vulgar, loving, fierce, and God-fearing woman. We cannot include them all here but would love to read any that you may share in the guest book. Please do not hesitate to share the moments and memories that showcase this unique and awesome lady.
She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren:
Gilbert M. Ubert and Spouse Darla Ubert, grandchildren Jessica Rayanne Julia Ubert, Joshua Travis Manuel Ubert, Rebacca Elizabeth-Ann Ubert, Lisa Christine Marie Ubert, and Amanda Rose Julia Ubert. Her great grandchildren Riley James Ubert, Genesis Rayanne Perez, and Emberlynn Storm Vanaltena. Joshua Corey Manual Ubert, LunaLaRana Marie-Rose Ubert, Pearl Margaret-Marian Ubert, Amethyst Ruby Rose Marie LaBelle, Maryanna Graceland LaBelle, Stariel Athena Iris LaBelle, Demetri Cash Allen Labelle, Mathias Leo Marion Mayer, and Ever Renee Marie Mayer.
Sydney Kossowski and spouse Andrew Kossowski, grandchildren Eric Kossowski and Kristina Kossowski.
Siobhan Alvarez and spouse Michael Alvarez, grandchildren Cassandra Castillo, Anthony Alvarez, and Kaitlin Alvarez. Great grandchildren, Jaden Myers, Darryl Cook III, and Eliseyana Jeffrey.
Justin Ubert and spouse Becca Ubert, grandchildren Jordan Ubert, Gabriel Ubert and Miriam Ubert.
Lara Baker and spouse Terenzio Baker, grandchildren Narijah Baker, Asia Baker, Yasmin Baker, Nehemiah Baker, and Yasiana Baker.
Sabrina Guzman, grandchildren Dallas Creech (Megan Sparks) and Marysa Everette(Jeffrey Everette). Greatgrandchildren Ayanna Creech, Mariah Creech, Jaxson Creech, Elliana Everette, and Elijah Everette.
Gillian Rodriguez and Mauricio Rodriguez, and grandchild Liliana Rodriguez.
Flowers and/or donations for flowers can be made to Brackney Funeral Home.
Brackney Funeral Service Chapel
Brackney Funeral Service Chapel
Justin Ubert
June 30, 2022, 6:39 pm
I love you forever, Mama.
Traci Kirchinger
June 30, 2022, 9:40 pm
Your mom was a definite spitfire! She was a tough lady and raised some wonderful kids! There are a few of you that I love dearly. I know this is so difficult on you all. Sending my love, hugs and prayers to you all.
Ingrid Malik-Connor
July 1, 2022, 12:04 am
Jo and I met in Basic Training for the Air Force. She was in a different Flight than I. I had my vaccinations that morning and in the early evening, I had a fever of 103. I was sent to the ER and then to ICU where I was placed in the bed next to Jo. We were woken at 0200 for vitals checks and got to talking. I learned she was LDS and she told me where the meetings were held on Base. We have been close friends, actually more like sisters for forty-four years. WE were Partners in Crime at Chanute AFB during our job training. I was with her when she met her second husband. She was devoted to him at the time. I don’t hold any hard feelings toward him over their breakup. Stuff happens. He was a good man. Jo gave me her beloved Beagle Snuffy when the family was being transferred to Spain and he was my faithful companion until he passed at age 13. He saved me from sexual assault by a Serial Rapist and I will always be grateful to her for giving him to me. Side note. I never get sick from vaccinations. I believe I got sick that day specifically to meet Jo. Someday, The Deadliest Duo will be together again and our poor Father in Heaven will be shaking his head at our antics…for eternity.
Gillian Rodriguez
July 1, 2022, 12:24 pm
Each one of us got a special part of you Moma.
Lara has your green thumb.
Sabrina has your talent for cakes.
Lili has your sense of humor 100%.
Im not sure exactly what I got buy it might be just a bit of all of your talents and sass.
I dont have any regrets about our life. No matter what, I have always known how much you love us. I love you so much Moma.
Kasserine Orton
July 1, 2022, 12:28 pm
She was one of the best grandparents I knew. Always giving the family laughs and cracking jokes. I loved hearing her tell everyone “I love you, baby.” One of my favorite memories is when everyone came to Daleville for Dallas’s birthday and she wanted to give Yasiana a warhead. Yasiana thought it was so good at first and then her face realized how sour it was. The whole family will be in my thoughts in your time of need.
Victoria subotic
July 2, 2022, 11:14 am
The best thing I can remember is she always made you feel accepted and loved no matter what. Full of life and love. You will be dearly missed and your name will be carried on through our memories of you and the love you gave me I will never forget! Love you momma jo
Jennifer Lairmore
July 4, 2022, 6:15 am
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Yalls mother was always so kind to me when I seen her.
Jennifer, Bo, Aubrey and Durl Lairmore
Cheryl Lichtenberger
July 5, 2022, 12:43 am
My Dear Shirley Jo,
You will be missed by so many but you will be in our hearts forever. I remember our phone calls
that lasted till our phones died. I regret we lost contact with each other. You made me laugh and you brought back memories to me of the past of our family visits. The time we went to someone’s watermelon patch nearby and I think your brother picked it for us ( could’a been one of my sisters–who all will deny. lol) all to enjoy. The donkey & also the horse that bit Trudy. The dinners Aunt Anne made. She was as good a cook as mom. When we talked those are the things we reminisced about. You told me about your kids & I told you of mine. I love you Shirley and know you will be with family. God Bless.
Cheryl
Shawn Marie Gardenhire
July 26, 2022, 11:25 am
One of my most favorite Aunts. Was so good to see her when she so bravely made it to Yuma to see my dad and mom. I’m so grateful to have spent some time with her then. My condolences are late and my dad would say I was running on Shirley Jo time. It’s always been a favorite tease of his for me and now so even more! Uncle Bill and Aunt Lolo are heartbroken to loose their sister and I to have lost my aunt. Cousins, I am deeply sorry for your loss. I know she is smiling down proudly at how beautiful you all are and all of you have been in our hearts since! I love you Auntie Shirley!, Forever in my heart!
Thomas Tom Gardenhire
July 29, 2024, 10:04 pm
We as a family had many rough times in our lives.
I last spoke to Shirley when I lived in North Carolina in 2018.
We had spoke of her moving to my house back in Willcox. She wanted to drive as she had some taxi experience and did not trust others.
Our plans did not come to reality.
I am truly morned, sadden and will miss all the love, sibling squabbles and the pranks we played on others.
I was sent this notice in my email today. 7/29/2024
I now reside in the Willcox, AZ area and visit the family gravesite and care for my Grandpa, Grandmother and Uncle Charlie’s graves .
You know I can’t remember anything bad about Shirley.
I truly love and will miss my sister.
To be absent from the body means to be in the presence of God and Jesus and everlasting life.
Heaven is a much richer place having her there.
Tom Gardenhire
October 15, 2024, 8:48 pm
I have re read this notice numerous times.
Many times tearful, others with a smile in remembrance of the fun and pranks Shirley and I committed. ( I say committed because if it were to happen today, we would be in ĵuvy.)
One time in Tucson, Shirley and I acquired some old hats and long coats. I had 2 cap pistols and we decided to pull a hold up. Like in the Western stagecoach days.
We hid in some bushes close to a well to do restaurant.
An older couple came out and proceeded walking in our direction.
We jumped out in front of the couple and yelled “this is a stickup” .
The old couple threw her purse and his wallet down and ran off towards the restaurant. We did not know what to do. We looked at each other threw down our ” guns” and ran off the other way. We hid in a dark alley for about an hour, finally going home.
That night began and ended our hold up days.
Now if you remember Shirley’s laugh, you’ll enjoy
how it was when she laughed and would grab your arm to keep from falling down.
Another time we hid in bushes again, this time along Grant Road in Tucson in the evening.
We had acquired some green Grapefruits and would roll them out into on coming traffic. When the driver hit the Grapefruit, he would think he had hit something else and would pullover to check it out.
It was all alot of fun.
One driver went around the block and came back and caught us.
He took us to our house and MOM. Mom made us cut our own Ucaloptus tree switches and then she blistred our behinds. I would like to say that the whipping cured our need for….”Fun”, but…. well you know Shirley 🙂
The last I’ll leave you with is when we lived on Pasttime Rd in Tucson.
We had heard of this trick from my father and others… so one night around Halloween we collected ALL the necessary items to pull off the prank.
Now we had this one lady’s family down the street who didn’t care for 2 urchins like us, so…. now was it was pay back.
Most everyone in the neighborhood had settled in by 9 pm. So Shirley and I took our “gift” and off we went.
I got to ring the doorbell while Shirley put lighter fluid on the prize and lit it.
We took off so fast and stop half way down the block.
Just in time to see our neighbor stop the flames and human residue all over her porch.
YEP … she got to stomp the bag.
You know how hard we laughed. Especially Shirley, she was still laughing when we got home.
Mom had recieved a phone call just before we got home.
Yep.. back outside to the Eucalipsis tree and two more switches.
It was hard sitting down that night, or for a couple of days afterwards.
Now you know why sometimes I smile.
If you would like to get in touch with me and my wife (49 yrs) Sarah, you can at [email protected]
In Remembrance of my good time buddy Shirley.
Tom Gardenhire