Shirley Jerome Obituary

Shirley Merkle Jerome Orlando, FL - Shirley Merkle Jerome, 92, of Charleston, SC, passed away peacefully at her son's home in Orlando, FL. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was married 54 years to Laurence J. Jerome, Jr. until his death. Shirley graduated from Seabreeze High School in 1943. In the 1960s, she followed her passion and graduated from Brevard Community College with a degree in nursing. For 40 years as a CCU/ICU nurse, Shirley loved being a nurse and making a difference. In 1997, after 37 devoted years to the Girl Scout Movement, Shirley received the Girl Scout Lifetime Member Award. She also volunteered for the American Red Cross, Mended Hearts, Roper Hospital Care Alliance, and People to People Ambassador Program. Shirley is survived by her two sons, Barry Andersen of Tucson, AZ, and Laurence J. Jerome III (Jim Kiene) of Orlando, FL; two daughters Leslie (Clayton) Haxton of Savannah, GA, and Jacqueline (James) Curley of Pinehurst, NC; three grandchildren Amy (Joe) Frost, Andrew (Aby) Curley, and Issac Haxton Jr. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Nancy (Frank) Burdick; and six nieces and three nephews. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, George and Helen Merkle; sister, Helen P. Rogers; brother-in-law, Robert A. Jerome; sister-in-law, Janet Jerome; and nephew, Jamie Rogers. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 31, 2018, at 2pm at Daytona Memorial Park South, 1428 Bellevue Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386-226-1100). In lieu of flowers, and because of Shirley's love for Girl Scouts, the family requests donations be made to the Girl Scouts of Citrus at 341 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, FL 32803. The Girl Scouts will be building their first museum in Florida and the family plans to honor Shirley's memory in their new building. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston