THOUSAND OAKS, CA – Shirley F. Yager passed away early in the morning on Saturday, January 18, 2014 with family members at her bedside. She was 78.

Shirley Yvonne Freeland was born in Ahoskie, North Carolina on February 10, 1935 to the late Hugh C. Freeland and Emma Hall Freeland. She and her first cousin Joan, spent their early years at the Hall family home in Union, raised as sisters with their grandmother, the late Claudie Chavis Hall.

Shirley attended elementary and high school at the historic C.S. Brown High School in Winton, North Carolina. She graduated in 1953 as valedictorian of her class.  In 1957, Shirley graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and was then initiated into the Phi Betta Kappa National Honor Society.

After completing college, Shirley began her lifelong career in education. She taught at C.S. Brown until moving to California in 1968. In California, Shirley taught at both CentennialHigh School in Compton and at MercedHigh School, East Campus. Shirley earned Master’s Degrees in both Education and Counseling while teaching full-time and raising two children. She then became Dean of Girls at Livingston High School, a counselor at Atwater High School, and served as Vice Principal/Attendance at both Merced High School and Atwater High School. Before retiring in 1990, Shirley was Coordinator of Child Welfare and Attendance for the Moreno Valley School District and later Director of Child Welfare and Attendance for the Modesto City Schools.

Although Shirley’s professional life was exemplary, her pride and joy was her family. The mother of two daughters, Shirley always supported them in their activities. Late in life, Shirley met the love of her life, Vince Yager and they were married in 1979. It was with Vince that Shirley developed her love of the outdoors and enthusiasm for travel. Their greatest joy eventually became their grandchildren who they enthusiastically nurtured and supported spending many hours at various sporting events as their biggest fans.

Shirley was pre-deceased by Vince in 2002.  Shirley leaves to mourn her daughters Leslie Savage Holliday (Rick) and Claudia Eaton; her stepchildren, Kent Yager (Marguerite), Chris Yager and Kim Zulaica; and grandchildren Blair Savage Holliday, Chase Savage Holliday, Dallas Savage Holliday, David Eaton-Kittrell, David Yager, Derik Yager, Daniela Yager, and Kristin Zulaica; her “sister” Joan Thompson (John); extended Archer family in Winton, N.C.,  as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and her extended Archer family in Winton, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers the family wishes that donations be made in the name of Shirley F. Yager to the Alzheimer’s Association.

A vigil will be held Friday January 24, 2014 7:00 P.M. at the Griffin Family Funeral Chapel in Thousand Oaks.

A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday January 25, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.  at St Peter Clavier Church in Simi Valley followed by interment at Assumption Cemetery also in Simi Valley.

Arrangements were made with the assistance of Griffin Family Funeral Chapels, Thousand Oaks. (805) 230-2800