April 7, 1935 – February 21, 2019
Shirley Ann Paugh, 83, passed away peacefully at her home in Cicero on Thursday morning, February 21, 2019, surrounded by her loving family and caregivers. Born April 7, 1935 in Hamilton County, she was the daughter of the late George Keith and Leila M. (Essex) Gardner.
For about a decade, she worked on the production line for Western Electric. After her plant closed, Shirley hired on with Deering Dry Cleaners in Carmel and remained with the company for several years.
Family, puzzles, game shows and traveling, and not always in that order, were what really kept Shirley going, and if you got to combine a few, well, all the better. She loved traveling with her husband Carl as often as they could find the time. Dollywood was one of their favorite spots, however, Hoosier Park in Anderson was definitely a close second. When it came to their casino trips, Shirley and Carl would travel together and walk in together, but once she spied the slot machines, together time was over; she would make a beeline straight for the one-armed bandits. Shirley was also very competitive when it came to her game shows. She and Carl would watch Wheel of Fortune together just about every night, with Shirley trying to solve the puzzles before the contestants, and of course before Carl. In order to keep her mind sharp, she also loved doing crossword puzzles.
Spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, was the activity she enjoyed the most. Whether it was sitting and watching TV, going on a trip, or just stopping by for a visit, if family was involved, it was at the top of her list.
Shirley is survived by her loving husband, Carl Lee Paugh. She and Carl were married on July 14, 1972. She is also survived by her son, James Edward Conaway, Cicero; six grandchildren, Robert K. Conaway (Jody), Ekin; Joshua D. Conaway, Westfield; Carl K. Conaway (Sarah), Louisville; April M. Peterson (Joe), Westfield; John Conaway, Knoxville, Tenn.; and September Conaway, Peru, Ind.; 16 great-grandchildren; one brother, Jerry Gardner (Patty), Westfield; and one sister, Rebecca Mikesell, Westfield.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Randy Conaway; daughter-in-law, Janeen Conaway; and three siblings, Patty, Larry and Jack.
Shirley will be laid to rest at Shaw Cemetery in Vernon, Ind. at a later date. She always felt honored that her final resting place would be in the same cemetery as racing driver Pat O’Connor.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Kercheval Funeral Home in Sheridan.
Arrangements
Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com