HAMPSTEAD, NH: Shirley Vaughn (Munroe) Waters passed peacefully on August 4, 2012 at Gorham House in Gorham, ME.

She was born in Somerville, MA on January 17, 1929, and was the daughter of Gordon and Frances (Hardy) Munroe.

She spent her younger years living in Medford, MA where she graduated from Medford High School, Class of 1948. She continued her education and became a dental assistant. After her marriage to James R. Waters, they moved to Hampstead, NH in 1952. It was in Hampstead where she raised three children; Martin, Leonard and Cynthia.

While her children were young, she supplemented the family income with numerous jobs; bus driver, baker, green house employee and shoe shop company employee. Shirley also volunteered for the Salvation Army for over 40 years. In 1968 she went to work at Western Electric/AT&T as a circuit board tester until her retirement in 1991.

After retirement Shirley got the travel bug and visited China, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Israel, England, Scotland, Ireland, Hawaii and Alaska. After visiting China she used her painting talents to produce stunning Chinese-themed works of art.

Shirley was a very artistic person. Her talents extended from her beautiful detailed paintings to her innate ability to arrange gorgeous and unique flower arrangements. She was a member of the Hampstead Congregational Church Flower Guild and blessed the sanctuary with bouquets. Shirley was an accomplished knitter and the family has many heirloom pieces of her efforts. Shirley loved to cook and family and friends will remember her skill of setting a lovely table filled with wonderful delicious food and goodies.

Shirley's first love was her family but her second love was the Christmas Holiday Season. She loved to decorate her home and enjoyed entertaining and having guests in to see the fruits of her labors. She spent many hours wrapping presents, her eye for detail and perfection added a personal touch to these gifts. If it was up to her she would have kept Christmas up all year long.

Shirley enjoyed the ocean and spent many summers by the beach. It was her way to relax, enjoy the sun and have picnics with family and friends.

Shirley was predeceased by her loving husband, James R. Waters, in 1984; her parents Gordon and Frances Munroe; her brother George Munroe and her son-in-law, James Alexander. She is survived by her family, Martin O. Waters and his wife Cheryl of Gorham, ME; Leonard A. Waters and his wife Robin of Freedom, NH; and Cynthia V. Alexander of Durham, NC. She will be missed by her grandchildren and their families; Jeremy, Kathryn, Justin, Benjamin and James. She leaves behind great grandchildren, Amber, Amanda, Zachary, Preston and Patricia; along with nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Arrangements by Dole, Childs & Shaw Funeral Home, 148 Main Street, Haverhill. Interment at Lakeview Cemetery in Hampstead, NH will be at the convenience of the family at a later date. Donations in her memory should be sent to Hampstead Congregational Church, 61 Main Street, Hampstead, NH 03841.

Online condolence may be sent to www.dcsfuneralhome.com