Shirley Smith

Barre — Shirley (Crawford) Smith, 86, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at UMass Memorial Healthcare – University Campus in Worcester.

Born in Ware and raised in Oakham, she was the beloved daughter of the late Roscoe and Marjorie (Donovan) Crawford and a proud graduate of Wachusett Regional High School.

Shirley began her career with the New England Telephone Company and later served as a welcoming presence as a receptionist at Riordan Law Office. In retirement, she remained deeply engaged in her community, generously giving her time as a volunteer with both the Barre and Oakham Historical Societies, as well as the Barre Senior Center.

A woman of many talents and interests, Shirley found great joy in gardening, antiquing, and completing puzzles. She was an accomplished craftswoman whose handmade creations were featured at numerous New England craft shows. She took particular delight in decorating Christmas trees—an art she perfected so beautifully that her work was once showcased in Worcester Magazine. Above all else, Shirley cherished time spent with her family and was especially overjoyed to be a great-grandmother.

She will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her devoted husband of 35 years, Wayne B. Smith; her son, Jack L. Gorr, Jr. of Barre; her daughters, Cindy DeLacey and her husband, Kevin, of Charlton and Newburyport, and Jill Douthwright and her husband, James, of Augusta, Maine; her stepson, Brandon Smith and his wife, Sharon, of Barre; her sisters, Edith Mathis of Worcester, Gladys Bowker,of Worcester, Effie Hebert of Worcester and Beverly Jalil and her husband, Asjed of Holden; her half-sisters, June Marzoll and her husband, Michael, of Oakham, and Brenda Crawford of Swanzey, New Hampshire; her half-brother, Henry Crawford and his wife, Carole, of Southbridge; ten grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Shirley was predeceased by her son, Jeffrey R. Gorr in 1987; her half- brother, Raymond A. Crawford; her half-sister, Diana Savoie; her parents-in-law, Warner F. Smith and Ethel (Duffy) Smith; and her former husband, Jack L. Gorr.

Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. Burial will be private at Green Hollow Cemetery in Oakham.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Barre Historical Society, P.O. Box 755, Barre, MA 01005, or to the Oakham Historical Society, P.O. Box 236, Oakham, MA 01068