Shirley Margaret Dufort

Shirley Margaret DuFort, 93, of Traverse City passed away peacefully at the Autumn House in Williamsburg on January 28, 2024.
Shirley was born on February 12th, 1930 in Flint, Michigan to the late Albert T. and Esther M. (Zahner) Shuler. On December 1st, 1953, Shirley married Robert E. DuFort. They lived in Farmington, St. Clair, and Plymouth with their four children before moving to Traverse City.
Shirley was a very busy mother of four children. She always gave the best birthday parties when we were young, often including nearly a dozen neighborhood children. Games and her homemade cake completed the best memories. She also generously gave her time as a Cub Scout den mother for all three boys and CampFire girls for her daughter's group.
Shirley was a very active member of First Congregational Church. She enjoyed attending services and special events with her family and friends. She had a very close group of friends from the church who always sat in the same pew and became known as the Friday Night Ladies. Every Friday night the four ladies would be seen in one of their favorite restaurants, such as The Cottage, Minerva's or Scalawags.
She was a member of the Traverse City Chapter of The Order of the Eastern Star like her mother before her. Shirley served as Worthy Matron in the Traverse City Chapter.
After Governor Milliken retired from governorship, Shirley served as his administrative assistant in Traverse City. She was also very active assisting local politicians seeking elected offices. Shirley was also a member of the League of Women Voters, often devoting her time to the election Polls. Shirley was also an administrative assistant for the local office of the Ohio National Life Insurance Company as well as working at Miners North.
Before Bob's passing they were active members of the Grand Traverse Rock & Mineral Club.
She loved gardening and working in her yard, watching the birds and wildlife. She cultivated many beautiful house plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and trees. Many originated from her mother's garden. Her roses were her favorites.
Shirley was a wonderful homemaker and taught her children homemaking skills as well. She had a quick wit that remained until her passing. Shirley had a flair for fashion and was always dressed for the occasion! In 2021 with a little assistance from a close personal friend, was back in the kitchen making the family favorite, Lebkuchen cookies.
Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Robert "Bob" in 2000; son Kurtis E., her parents, brother Albert R. Shuler and his wife Dorothy.
Shirley is survived by her children Nanette DuFort Ashford(Steven), Jeffrey (Lisa Goodrich) DuFort and Kevin DuFort (Elizabeth Young-DuFort); Brother-in-law Arthur Rabold (Beverly), grandchildren Alexander Ashford, Jessica DuFort and Nathan DuFort, great granddaughters Bella and Blythe, cousin Shirley Young, cousin John Zahner, niece Lisa Shuler Storace (Brian), great-niece Dorothy Storace Garcia(Raymond) and great-great niece Annabelle Rose.
The memorial service celebrating Shirley's life will be held at the First Congregational Church on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 12 noon. Interment will take place at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens at that time.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the "Order of the Eastern Star of Michigan - #147 Traverse Bay Area" or to the "Cherryland Humane Society."
We express our sincere gratitude to the care staff of Autumn House (Samaritas) Assisted Living for loving, attentive, and compassionate care as well as the amazing staff of Munson Hospice.