Shirley A. Brown

Shirley A. (Halstead) Brown, a beloved mother, grandmother, and sister, passed away peacefully on September 21, 2026, at the age of 90.

Born on December 19, 1935, to the late Arnold and Lena (Corner) Halstead, Shirley grew up on a dairy farm on the Wilawana road in the town of Chemung. She walked to the one room schoolhouse located two miles from her home for her elementary education and later rode the school bus to Waverly where she graduated.

Upon graduation she worked for Artistic Greeting in Elmira and as a waitress in a local restaurant. During this time, she met Wayne and they were soon married. They enjoyed 49 years of marriage before Wayne’s passing in 2004. Soon after marriage, they purchased a farm one mile from Shirley’s home on Wilawana Road where they resided for the rest of their lives.

Dedicated to the rural life style, Shirley spent long hours each day caring for the children, cleaning and maintaining the house, lawn, and garden, cooking home cooked meals, and baking cakes, cookies, pies, and desserts. The family raised registered Herford cattle for many years which provided many meals for the family. Shirley spent many hours in the fall canning and preserving the fruits and vegetables that the farm provided. A great source of pride was the fully stocked pantry that the farm provided the family. Once all of the children were in school, Shirley worked part time at various jobs including floor manager at K-mart. She was also active with the government for the Town of Chemung serving as a deputy town clerk, a member of the Board of Assessment Review, and as an election inspector.

Shirley loved the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas when the entire family gathered at her home, She spent hours decorating, making pies and cookies and preparing the meal for the family. For Easter, she would host an Easter egg hunt in the yard for all of the grandchildren. She also enjoyed Halloween when all of the children on Wilawana Road, and later her grandchildren, would come for generous candy offerings.

Shirley and Wayne purchased a camper and took the family on multiple summer camping trips. Later in life she participated in several bowling leagues in Waverly and in Elmira. For many years, Wayne joined her in a mixed bowling league with a neighborhood couple. Shirley also enjoyed going to bingo with her friends and neighbors.

Shirley was preceded in death by her devoted husband Wayne, her mother Lena, her father Arnold, her brother Gene Halstead, her brother John (Ed) Halstead, infant brother Gary, son in law Ray Ellers, and grandson Jordan Brown.

Shirley leaves behind a cherished legacy in her surviving family: Sons, David (Kay) Brown, Dennis (Nikki) Brown Doug Brown, and Daniel (Maritza) Brown; and her daughter, Denise (Brian) Simonovich. She is also survived by several grandchildren Jaymes (Cindy) Ellers, Jared (Brandi) Ellers, Josh (Miranda) Ellers, Macutcheon (Heidi) Brown, Peterson Brown, Jason (Caitlyn) Shaylor, Raul (Myranda) Ayala, Elisa (Dylan) Sarna.

Family and friends are welcome to gather from 6:00-8:00 PM on Monday, September 28, 2026 at the Roberts Funeral Home, Inc. 279 Main St. Wellsburg, NY. The funeral service to celebrate Shirley’s life will be held the next morning, September 29th at 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Following the service, Shirley will be laid to rest in Chemung Village Cemetery alongside her loving husband, Wayne. The family welcomes condolences, which can be shared at www.robertsfhinc.com.