Shirley L. McWilliams of Clarion passed away peacefully, but unexpectedly of natural causes at her home on the Clarion River on August 18, 2018. She was 71 years of age. Born on February 6, 1947 in Clarksburg, West Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Samuel and Sarah (Fisher) Wiant. In 2003, she married Robert J. McWilliams, who survives. After high school, Shirley went on to college and obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees in education. She had a 35-year career with the Union School District during which she taught special education and third grade. She touched hundreds of children's lives during her time in the classroom. She was a member of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), the Elks and Knights of Columbus Auxiliary in Dunedin, FL, the Order of the Eastern Star, and was a member of St. Joseph Church in Lucinda. Shirley loved living on the Clarion River and until recently enjoyed boating. She and Bob had a condominium in Florida and spent the last fourteen winters there, visiting small cities (St. Augustine was a favorite), trying hundreds of new restaurants, and even trying her hand at golf. Skipping sand traps and water hazards made 18 holes go much faster. Shirley was known as an excellent and creative cook. Her family was the beneficiary of her talents in the kitchen. She also loved feeding the hummingbirds and neighborhood deer that would visit her home on the River. Shirley recognized that giving was an important part of life. She gave of herself to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and the Juvenile Diabetes Association. Shirley is survived by her husband, Bob; her daughter, Stacey Anne Best (Jason), of New Bethlehem; her step-daughters, Susan Dougherty (Brian), of Fairmount City, and Stacy Anne McWilliams, of New York, NY; and her five grandchildren, Greg Nolf, Marley Best, Jake Dougherty, Rebecca Dougherty, and Max Neve McWilliams. She is also survived by her two sisters, Sandra Hungate (John), and Sharon Walker (Bob), both of whom live in Texas. In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by a sister, Sheila Whitt and her late husband, Thomas C. Smathers. Memorial donations may be made in Shirley's name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York NY 10004 (www.jdrf.org). Arrangements are under the care of the Goble Funeral Home and Crematory in Clarion. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on September 10th at St. Joseph's Church in Lucinda. Interment will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery.