Shirley May Lund, 85, of Paonia, Colo., passed away August 1, 2009.

She was born February 3, 1924, to Clifford and Pearl Griffin, early settlers of the North Fork Valley. She grew up in the valley graduating from Paonia High School in 1942. Shirley attended Mesa Junior College and the University of Denver, graduating with a degree in Library Science.

She married Robert Lund of Paonia. They enjoyed 63 years of marriage. Other than Shirley’s college years, she lived on her parents’ farm on Pitkin Mesa and then in the farmhouse she shared with Robert for the rest of her life. Together Robert and Shirley raised four children. Her legacy is highlighted by the fact that each of her children has trusted Jesus Christ as Savior.

Shirley was a hard-working farmer’s wife, raising a large garden and preserving thousands of quarts of fruit and vegetables. Shirley loved handwork – knitting, quilting, weaving pine needle baskets, and creating gourd vases, as well as sewing the family wardrobe.

She worked at the Paonia Library from 1971 until 1996. She was beloved by patrons locally, and those from far away who used her skills as a researcher. She put together an amazing collection few libraries could match and sent books all over the United States and world. In honor of Shirley’s work, she was selected Citizen of the Year in Paonia in 1991 and Grand Marshal of the Cherry Days parade. Recently the Colorado History Collection in the Paonia Library was named in Shirley’s honor.

Shirley taught Sunday School 42 years and played the piano. She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene. Recently she helped the ladies at her church make gifts for the North Fork Christmas Party and Delta County Foster Kids.

She is survived by her husband Robert Lund; two sons and their wives Dan and Judy Lund of Foley, Minn., and Olen and Debbie Lund of Paonia, Colo.; two daughters and their husbands, Janet and Gary Albers of Boring, Ore., and Stina and Wayne Frazier of Paonia, Colo.; 11 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; one brother and his wife, Homer and Irene Griffin and one sister, Louise Sanders.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Carroll (Pat) Griffin.

Services were held August 14, 2009.

Memorial contributions may be made to Africa Inland Mission for the support of grandson, Jim Frazier, c/o Paonia Friends Church, P.O. Box 278 Paonia, Colo., 81428.