Shirley Wray Kisling

Shirley Wray Kisling, 89, peacefully passed away from natural causes at the Ashley Manor in Pocatello on December 10, 2016.
She was born February 6, 1927 in Moreland, Idaho, to William Phillip and Myrtle E. Christiansen. Shirley spent her childhood in Moreland graduating from Moreland High School in 1945.
She married June DeLynn (Pete) Petersen in the Idaho Falls Temple on March 13, 1947. They had two children, Debra and Brent, who passed away as babies from cystic fibrosis. Losing these two children brought sorrow and sadness for many years. Pete and Shirley later divorced.
On May 14, 1971, Shirley married Dale Kisling. He preceded her in death on March 9, 2008. She and Dale enjoyed traveling to Mexico and spent long weekends in Las Vegas. Younger family members never tired of Shirley telling them about the time she and Dale rode all alone in an elevator in a Las Vegas hotel with Elvis Presley.
They also enjoyed league bowling for many years as well as fishing. Her dad taught her to fish as a young girl. He was sometimes her fishing partner. He taught her well as she could out fish the men.
Shirley retired from the UPRR after twenty years of service.
She was an avid gardener growing many different flowers and vegetables.
Shirley was a good friend to her nieces and nephews when they visited her. She would make a point to talk to each one and express interest in what they were doing with their lives and how they were doing it.
Shirley is survived by one sister, Lorraine Wray Holladay (Jean) and one brother, Douglas Wray (Gloria) and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her two children, Debra and Brent; her parents; her husband Dale; and a sister and brother-in-law, Lael Wray Hoffman and her husband Joe.
The family thanks Jean and Lorraine Holladay for the many years they affectionately cared for Shirley. We also appreciate the tender care given Shirley by the staff at Ashley Manor.
Graveside services will be held Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at Mountain View Cemetery (51 West) with Douglas Wray officiating. The family will meet with friends on Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel, 510 N. 12th Ave.