Shirley Miles Grout, age 83, passed away peacefully on April 19, 2022 at home in Goshen, NY, surrounded by her loving family.
Shirley married her high school sweetheart, Harold P. Grout, on November 9, 1977. The two of them brought together and raised a “whole flock” of children.... Brian, Karen, Susan, Joseph, Bruce, Douglas, Kip, Kurt and Keith.
Shirley was born on January 26, 1939, in Montpelier, VT to Constance (Ledoux) and Lawrence Miles. Shirley graduated from Waterbury High School in VT in 1956 where she was Co-Captain of the Girls Varsity Basketball Team. Nicknamed “Shirl”, her classmates described her as, “a daughter of the gods, divinely tall, and most divinely fair”, certainly, an accurate description. She also served as Class Secretary, was a member of the Glee Club, French Club, and also played the violin in the Orchestra. In 1959, Shirley graduated from Fletcher Hospital School of Nursing in Burlington, VT with a Registered Nursing Degree.
She worked as an RN at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, and later as a private duty nurse. For several years, she was a member of the Board of Directors at Braeside Camp in Middletown, NY, where her primary function was fund raising. Shirley deserves credit for transforming the substantial deficit condition she inherited at the outset into a camp with a strong positive cash surplus. Her efforts and dedication to Braeside Camp have provided many deserving Orange County children the opportunity to enjoy a summer camping experience. As an active member of Saint James’ Episcopal Church in Goshen, NY for many years, she was involved in the Church Garden Club, Annual Tour of the Gardens of Goshen and several Christmas Fairs.
Shirley also enjoyed playing golf, tennis, Pitch and 5 Crowns with her dearest friends and family. Shirley was well known for her very targeted sense of humor. Her utmost mission in life, however, was being a loving wife, mother and homemaker to her family of 9 children, grandmother to 8 grandchildren, and finally GIGI to 2 great grandchildren. No one will ever question that she did, in fact, achieve total success. “Mission Accomplished!”
Shirley is survived by her sister, Virginia Miles Ashley and husband Richard Ashley of Poulsbo, WA. Shirley is also survived by her loving husband of 44 years, “Harry”; sons Joseph MacLeod of Campbell Hall, NY, Douglas MacLeod of Tuxedo Park, NY, Brian Grout and wife Denny of Ithaca, NY, Bruce Grout of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Kip Grout and wife Vivian of Boca Raton, FL, Kurt Grout and wife Dianna of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Keith Grout and wife Susana of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; daughters Susan MacLeod of Naples, FL, and Karen Grout of Wenham, MA; grandchildren Danielle Baker and husband Kyle of Beverly, MA, Blake and Bryce Grout of Boca Raton, FL, Jack, Dylan, and Alexandra MacLeod of Ramsey, NJ, Stephania Grout of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Robert McManus and wife Michelle of Butler, NJ; and great grandchildren Madisen and Mason Baker of Beverly, MA, as well as many nieces and nephews. Shirley was predeceased by her daughter-in-law, Lisa Kendrick MacLeod of Goshen, NY.
The family would like to offer their sincere appreciation and thanks to various medical staff personnel - GOVAC, Hospice of Orange & Sullivan East Team, especially Primary Nurse Michele Montanye, RN; Christine Cimmino, LPN; Tara McCartney, LSW; and Sister Ann Daly. We would also like to extend gratitude to Jessica Finkle, Melissa Way-Osuba, and Nataly Duzant, who offered special loving care to Shirley, at home, for so many months, and everyone else who provided unending professional care and comfort to Shirley during her long-term struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. Your support and assistance helped greatly to make our difficult journey not only bearable, but also much more manageable... we love you all!
Visitation will be on Thursday, May 5, 2022 from 4:00-7:00 P.M. at Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush, Inc. Funeral Home, 117 Maple Avenue, Monroe. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at St. James Episcopal Church, 1 St. James Place, Goshen, New York. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family at a later date.
For those wishing to make a donation, please consider memorial contributions in Shirley’s name to the following: Hospice of Orange & Sullivan, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550, or Saint James’ Episcopal Church, 1 St. James Place, Goshen, NY 10924.
Arrangements by Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush, Inc. Funeral Homes, Monroe. (845) 782-8185 or www.ssqfuneralhome.com.