Celebration of Life: Shirley Ann Peters, October 15, 1935 – October 14, 2024

Provided.

Shirley Ann Peters.

Shirley Ann Peters, a long-time resident of Tehachapi, passed away on Oct. 14, one day shy of her 89th birthday. At Shirley's request, no service will be held.

Shirley was born in Shattuck, Oklahoma on Oct. 15, 1935. She was the youngest of 12 children in the Frank and May Terrel family of Follett, Texas. Her parents passed away when Shirley was young and she moved to Tehachapi where she was raised in the loving family of Lawrence and Colleen Redelsperger, who was Shirley's sister.

She is a graduate of Tehachapi High School Class of 1954, where she and her high school sweetheart and future husband, Kenneth Peters, were heavily involved in Tehachapi school sports programs and both held positions on the high school student council. Kenneth and Shirley were married on June 25, 1954, at the Church of Christ. Both Shirley and Kenneth are pictured on the cultural and historical BeeKay mural, painted on the side of the BeeKay Theatre and adjacent to Centennial Plaza in Downtown Tehachapi. The mural signifies their part in the town's history as founding members of the city.

During their 62 years of marriage, Shirley worked in administrative positions for the Tehachapi Hospital, Bell Telephone service in Lancaster and the California Department of Corrections, Tehachapi. She volunteered her time in various positions throughout Tehachapi including the Hospital Guild Thrift Store, school system and city library. Shirley's passion was the time she spent loving and caring for Kenneth and her four children. She supported Kenneth during his 15 years of honorable service as a California Highway Patrolman and 17 years as a Code Enforcement Officer with the City of Tehachapi. With Shirley's support, Kenneth singlehandedly, literally built every one of the family's eight Tehachapi homes. Shirley and Kenneth were long-time, active members of the Tehachapi Church of Christ. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, 11 siblings, her husband, her son Brad Peters and grandson Joshua Peters.

Shirley is survived by her three children, Annette Brooke, Greg Peters and Tamara Barnett; 12 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her foster son, Shawn Anderson, his wife Trish and family, who held a special place in her heart.

Wood Family Funeral Service in charge of arrangements.