Shirley May Rowling

Shirley May Rowling passed away on September 1, 2025. Shirley was born on February 21, 1946 to Eugene and Billie (Miller) Cuchine, the baby sister to her three big brothers. Shirley married the love of her life, Melvyn Rowling, in 1969 gaining three step-children (Alan, Cindy and Barbara), a big sister (Darlene) and a baby brother (Bill) all of whom she loved dearly. Soon after they welcomed her pride and joy, their son Douglas. Shirley spent most of her working years assisting Mel with their surveying and mining companies, but she was very proud of her time working at the Montana Standard. She often spoke very fondly of her job duties and co-workers from that time. She also spent time as a bookkeeper for Drs. Rowling and Silva at their dental office. Later in life, Shirley worked as a bus aide for the Butte school district where she made many new friends and had a great time with all of the students. As much as she loved her jobs, Shirley’s favorite times were raising her children and babysitting her grand-children. Her grand-children could do no wrong and she would do anything for them. Shirley loved taking road trips and she and Mel would often load kids, dogs and at least one of their mothers and head out to enjoy nature. She was a talented artist who loved painting and drawing. She was also an animal lover, taking in all of the strays with her heart breaking with every loss of her dogs and birds. Shirley had a heart of gold and was always doing for others, whether it was stockpiling popsicles in case any neighborhood kids came around, giving strangers rides to the store, or donating to every charity she received a solicitation from. She literally would not harm a fly, She would carefully catch them so she could release them outside. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Melvyn, her brothers Jerry, Buddy and Dave, her son Alan and her sisters-in-law Darlene and Denise. Shirley is survived by her son Doug (Donna), her daughter-in-law Shirley B Rowling, her stepdaughters Cindy (Tom) Hendricks and Barb Monroe, her grandchildren Camy Dillan and Ryan Donahue, Doreen Williams, Johnathan Colville, Riley and Kaden Rowling, her great-grandchildren Logan and Maverick Williams, her brother-in law Bill (Susie) Rowling, sister-in-law Ellen Cuchine and numerous nieces and nephews who she loved so very much. The family would like to thank Shirley’s nieces Mary Verhelst, Chris Vidrich and Debbie Queer, her nephew Denis Cuchine and her special friend Sandy Thiesen for the hours they spent by her side in her last week of life, They would also like to thank Virginia Williford and the rest of the Honeybee Hospice staff as well as the wonderful team at Copper Ridge for the loving care they provided. Memorial services will be conducted Friday, September 26th at 11 AM in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home with Deacon Bernie McCarthy officiating. A reception will follow in Wayrynen-Richards Community Center.

Tributes

Shirley May Rowling

February 21, 1946 - September 1, 2025