Shirley Anne Burke Keller Firestone
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Shirley's obituary
Shirley Anne Burke Keller-Firestone
January 25, 1937 – August 14, 2025
Shirley Anne Burke Keller-Firestone, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, educator, and speech coach, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2025 at the age of 88. Shirley’s life was marked by a profound dedication to her family, her students, and her passion for learning and teaching.
Born on January 25, 1937, in Rapid City, South Dakota, Shirley grew up around Hoover and Newell, South Dakota. Her childhood was spent on the Burke Ranch, where she tended to a variety of livestock, from chickens to pigs, and even learned the art of plucking and gutting chickens for dinner. A memorable childhood moment included being impaled on a pickaxe and hearing a hired hand tell her mother, “Don’t worry, I think she’s already dead.” Shirley lived to tell the story, and her resilience became one of her defining traits.
A proud graduate of Newell High School in 1954, Shirley pursued her love of education at the University of South Dakota, despite her father’s hopes that she would attend the University of Wyoming. There, she earned a degree in Radio and TV Broadcasting, along with a minor in Business. She also made lifelong memories navigating the challenges of sorority life and overcoming the taunts of others because of a facial birthmark. Shirley went on to work at WANX Radio in Yankton, SD, and at a TV station in Fort Dodge, IA, before moving to California in 1960, where she continued her work in television and furthered her education at Fresno State, earning a teaching credential in 1961.
In 1962, Shirley married Gordon Keller in a Lutheran church ceremony in Fresno, and together they had two children, Kamala and Sean. She later married Gerald Firestone who preceded her in death n 2014. Shirley was an active mother, teaching and nurturing her children while also contributing to her community. She moved to San Jose in 1964, where she began a distinguished 36-year career in education, teaching English and speech at Lynbrook High School in San Jose. Her work as a speech coach—spanning Lynbrook, Saratoga, Monte Vista, and Presentation High Schools—earned her prestigious accolades, including induction into both the California (‘92) and National (‘96) Speech and Debate Hall of Fames. Shirley’s passion for coaching led her to achieve six "Diamond Coach" awards, a rare and revered recognition that reflected her excellence and longevity in the field. She was proud of her team’s accomplishments, with one of her most cherished memories being the day her team beat Fremont’s Carmendale Fernandez team to advance to the State Championships.
Shirley’s contributions to education were not confined to her students alone. She was an active member of the De Oro Club in Cupertino, CA, and the Delta Kappa Gamma Teacher Sorority. Her love for travel took her on six cruises, including journeys to Norway, Germany, Denmark, the Caribbean, and Mexico, where she once survived a fire in the galley of her ship.
Shirley is survived by her daughter Kami Waggoner, son Sean Keller (Marci), stepdaughter Michele Bento (Duarte), granddaughter Katelyn Coburn, and grandsons Tyler (Florence) and Devon (Sarah) Bento and Jaden and Logan Keller. She will be remembered for her quick wit, her unwavering dedication to her family and students, and her life filled with stories of adventure and resilience.
Shirley’s legacy lives on in the lives she touched, from her students who went on to achieve greatness, to her family who adored her. She will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity of your choice in her honor.
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