Shirley M. (Gurnee) Parham

Shirley M. Parham, 89, of Palmyra passed away Monday, March 30, 2026 peacefully at her home surrounded by family.

Born April 6, 1936 in Carbondale PA, she was a daughter of the late Albert Gurnee and Florentine (Work) Demarest. She was the widow of Harold G. Parham, and also preceded in death by her three daughters, Linda Miller, Marilyn Wilson, and Vicki Siegrist, as well as a brother Albert Gurnee and sister Louise Halsell.

Shirley was a positive presence, like a cheerleader, to everyone she met in her life.  Regardless of how she felt, she always showed up for people in a loving and caring way with the brightest smile on her face and the kindest words of encouragement.  Shirley and Harold were the epitome of a true love story, sending letters to each other from the day they first crossed paths in 1950 while Harold had a brief stay at Ft Indiantown Gap.  There he asked her if he could write Shirley, then throughout his time serving in the Korean War, and all the way until his retirement from the Army in 1967.  Shirley revisited these letters often throughout her life, having saved every one Harold had sent her.

Surviving are her sister Jackie Brauer of Spokane, Washington; her grandchildren April, Jeff, Heather, and Jeremy; thirteen great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held 3:00 PM Friday, April 10, 2026 at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville where she will be reunited with her beloved Harold.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Army Emergency Relief, 2530 Crystal Drive, Suite 13161, Arlington, VA 22202.

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