Shirley Rae Barr Valentine was born on March 16, 1948, in Alamosa, Colorado, to Eugene Barr and Gladys Westbrook Barr. She was the seventh of thirteen children. Shirley attended school in Sanford, Colorado, where she graduated from Sanford High School in 1966. During her high school years, she was voted Ms. Personality and Ms. Scholarship, honors that reflected her kindness, intelligence, and the way she treated everyone equally—always valuing the individual over appearances.

Shirley earned her bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Business from Adams State College in 1970. On June 9, 1970, she was sealed to Gerald Craig Valentine in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Together they lived in Sanford, Broomfield, and Cañon City, Colorado, before settling in Aurora, Colorado, where they raised their two children, Kiechel and Britney.

Shirley served faithfully and diligently for many years in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, fulfilling numerous callings. In the Sanford Ward, she served as a Junior Sunday School teacher and a dance instructor. A natural dancer, Shirley mastered the popular steps of the time and loved teaching them to the youth of the ward. In Broomfield, she served in Primary and the Nursery.

In the Aurora First Ward, Shirley served in the Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society presidencies, and she taught six-year-olds in Primary for fifteen consecutive years. She devoted many hours each week preparing lessons and creating meaningful handouts to help children learn gospel principles at home. She especially loved serving alongside her dear friend Sally Westover in the Young Women organization, planning activities and mentoring the young women. Shirley often said, “Serving in the church is always better when it is with a good friend.”

She also supported her husband during his service as bishop, offering encouragement and countless hours of help—including donating her garage for ward storage needs. Later in life, Shirley served a service mission for more than three years at the Denver Bishop's Storehouse.

Shirley was a prolific and devoted letter writer. She wrote weekly letters to Craig during his mission in Central America, especially after the unexpected death of his mother, Doris, in 1968. She wrote Kiechel a letter every day during his mission in Alabama—even mailing a final letter on the day he completed his service, knowing it would be forwarded back to Denver. At the time of her passing, she had a large stack of birthday cards already written, addressed, and stamped for the April birthdays of friends and family.

She was the biggest Denver Broncos fan on either side of the family, never missing a game and often waking Craig to make sure he watched alongside her.

Shirley loved decorating her home for every holiday—Valentine’s Day, Easter, the Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and especially Christmas. With the skill of an interior decorator, she transformed her home each season. Christmas held a special place in her heart, both for its sacred meaning and the joy it brought to her family and friends.

Each year, Shirley carefully managed the family finances to plan a summer vacation. The family traveled to 42 states, as well as Canada and Mexico. She loved experiencing as much of the United States as possible, carefully documenting each trip with photos preserved in family albums.

One of Shirley’s most joyful moments occurred in 1982, when the family flew to Salt Lake City to go the Salt Lake Temple, where their new baby, Britney, was sealed to them as an eternal family, for time and eternity. This experience represented the pinnacle of Shirley’s gospel-centered life.

After 44 years in their home at 418 South Lima Circle in Aurora, Craig and Shirley moved to Parker, Colorado, in 2020. Shirley loved her new home and the opportunities that came with this new chapter. She passed away peacefully at home in Parker on April 9, 2026.

Shirley is survived by her beloved husband, Craig; her children, Kiechel (Ranee) of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Britney of Centennial, Colorado; and her eight cherished grandchildren: Ethan, Riley, Mason, Carson, Gabriel, Gentry, Max, and Kaydence.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gene and Gladys Barr; her brother, Kent Barr; and her sisters, Betty Barr Bushnell and Roxie Barr Stanley.

She is survived by her brothers Max Barr; Paul Barr (Dorothy); Brent Barr (Linda); Kirk Barr (Lisa); Mark Barr; and Tom Barr (Adele); and her brother‑in‑law, Preston Stanley. She is also survived by her sisters Dottie Barr; Sharlene Barr Gowdy; and Sue Barr Jackson (Allan), as well as many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

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