Shirley Easton Voyta

Shirley Easton Voyta was born Nov. 22, 1911, in Fayette, North Dakota, to parents Henry C. Easton and Amy Zabel Easton. With her parents and two sisters, she moved to Montana in 1918. Shirley graduated from Fromberg High School and Eastern Montana College (now MSUB) with a graduate degree. She taught 35 years, with the last 22 at Eastern Elementary School. She married Joseph Voyta in 1943; he predeceased her in 1979.

On Mother's Day, 1943, Shirley joined the First Presbyterian Church, where she served as Presbyterian Women Bible Study leader, a member of the hand bell choir for 27 years and the Chancel Choir for 64 years. She was a charter member of XI Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, was its first president and its treasurer for 20 years. She was a member of the Yellowstone Valley Retired Educators, where she held various offices. She was Recording Secretary for the Montana Retired Educators Association for two years during the 1970s.

Shirley is survived by her caregivers, Willeen and Greg Erpenbach and Dan McCarthy of Billings; and Gilbert W. Acheson of Nashville, Tennessee. Also, Vivian and Neil Markham of Westminster, Colorado; Joe and Libby McCarthy of Brea, California; and many special nieces and nephews in California, Idaho, Tennessee, Florida, Colorado, South Dakota and Arkansas; and special great-nieces and nephews and loyal friends.

Her parents; three sisters, Mabel E. Strickler, Carol E. Acheson, Faye E. Horn; two brothers, Gilbert G. Easton and William H. Easton; and her two sisters-in-law, Mable S. Easton and Elsie D. Easton, predeceased her.

The family wishes to thank Shirley's many friends, neighbors and loved ones for their support and tender loving care. (Yes, that means you!)

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Women's Association or any charity of your choosing.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, January 13, at First Presbyterian Church, 2420 13th St. West. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens.