Shirley Zimmerman

Mrs. Shirley Jane Duvall Zimmerman, age 85, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2016 surrounded by her loving family and her caregivers at Homewood at Crumland Farms. Shirley was born on January 1, 1931, in Damascus, Maryland.  She was the seventh of nine children of the late Oliver Morgan Duvall and Fay Huntington Watkins Duvall.

Shirley graduated from Damascus High School as president of her class.  She loved school and playing sports. She left Damascus to attend Towson State Teachers College. After graduating from college, she taught school in Germantown, Maryland.  On September 3, 1959, she married John Trego Zimmerman, Sr. and moved to Walkersville where she raised six children on Auburn Farms. Trego predeceased her in 2013. Her parents-in-law, Clayborne and Annie Zimmerman, also predeceased her.

Shirley is survived by six children:  Jeff Zimmerman (Christina) of New York City, Jane Susi (Mark) of Walkersville, Clay Zimmerman (Karen) of Walkersville, Faye Zimmerman (Frank) of Frederick, Mike Zimmerman (Paula) of Walkersville, and John Zimmerman (Debbie) of Walkersville. She is survived by 20 grandchildren: Jackson, Kylie, Madison, Piper, Garrett, Conor, Grant, Bryce, Derrick, Kristin, Clayborne, Connor, Kelsey, Tory, Logan, Clayton, Patrick, Jenna, Jayme and J.T.  She is also survived by five great grandchildren. Shirley’s brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Lois Duvall, of New Hampshire also survive her, as well as many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and great nephews.

Besides her husband, Shirley was predeceased by the following siblings: Rose Duvall, Mary Virginia Dietz, Paul Duvall, Edward Duvall, Gerald Duvall, Rodney Duvall and William Duvall.

Shirley treasured her large family and encouraged them to become involved in their community, grow as individuals and enjoy life. She was an active member of Glade United Church of Christ where she worshipped regularly until recently becoming a resident of Homewood at Crumland Farms where she attended worship and enjoyed many activities. Trego and Shirley were honored in 2010 with the Farm Family of the Year award at the Great Frederick Fair. Throughout her life, Shirley was an active community volunteer in many capacities and a dedicated member of several organizations: Frederick County Farm Bureau, Frederick County 4-H, Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company (honorary life member), Walkersville Volunteer Rescue Company, Glade Valley Grange, Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers, Walkersville Homemakers Club, Frederick County United Way, Walkersville Elementary and Walkersville High Schools PTAs, Daughters of America, Rose Hill Garden Club, and many other organizations and leadership positions too numerous to mention. Shirley especially enjoyed serving as a judge at local and state community shows and fairs, as well as an election judge. She had a variety of interests including duckpin bowling, cooking, baking, milk bottle collecting, bingo, word seek, cards, games, and most recently painting. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with family and friends to keep up with the news. Shirley and Trego traveled to many places and took cruises after raising their children, and they frequently took off in their car on expeditions.

Shirley’s family wishes to express its heartfelt appreciation for her medical, spiritual and emotional care. There were many people who provided continuing support to her.

The family will receive friends at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick on Tuesday, March 29th from 2-4 and 7-9PM. A celebration of Shirley’s life will take place at Glade United Church of Christ, 21 Fulton Ave., Walkersville on Wednesday, March 30th at 10:00AM with the Rev. Philip N. Curran officiating. Interment will be in Glade Cemetery, Walkersville.

In lieu of flowers, suggested memorial contributions may be made as follows:

The J. Trego and Shirley D. Zimmerman Fund for Glade United Church of Christ or the Glade Cemetery Fund through the Community Foundation of Frederick County, 312 East Church Street, Frederick, MD  21701, to Homewood at Crumland Farms (either Activities Fund or Benevolent Fund), 7407 Willow Road, Frederick, MD 21702 or to the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 425, Walkersville, MD 21793.