Shirley Lou Harris, 90 of Zanesville

Shirley Lou Harris, 90, of Zanesville, passed away peacefully in her sleep during her morning nap on September 19, 2026, at WillowHaven Rehabilitation and Care Center, where she had made her home for the past six years. Shirley was the daughter of the late Earl Roberts and Pauline Baker Roberts. Her 90 years tell the story of a woman whose faith, compassion, generosity, and service became deeply woven into the community she called home.
A Lifetime of Love and Service
A Chronological Celebration of a True Muskingum County Humanitarian
The Seeds of Community Care (1940s–1960s) • Gathering the Neighborhood
Early Archival Footprint: Regional printings in the Zanesville Times Recorder capture Shirley anchoring neighborhood circles, local family milestones, and social gatherings. These decades quietly laid the groundwork for a woman who would spend her entire life bringing the people of Zanesville together.
The Spiritual Anchor & Interfaith Bridge (1970s–1980s) • Uniting in Faith
Ordained to Serve as a Deacon: Shirley formally stepped into leadership at Central Presbyterian Church, serving faithfully as an ordained Deacon. In this role, she modeled true servant leadership, shepherding the congregation, offering communion, and anchoring the church’s local mission work.
Alongside the late Reverend Bill and Dotty Briggs, Shirley helped lay the foundation for Fellowship of Christ Community and Eastside Ministries, two organizations dedicated to helping those in need throughout Muskingum County.
Guardian of the Church Nursery
For years, Shirley acted as the quiet heartbeat of the Central Presbyterian nursery. She cradled infants and nurtured young childhood ages with boundless patience, giving parents the peace of mind to fully immerse themselves in worship and connect with God.
The Compassionate Comforter
Alongside her fellowship with the Fellowship of Christ Community, church records preserve a beautiful truth. Shirley felt like an extension of everyone’s own family. Whenever crisis or loss struck a neighbor, she was the first on the scene to absorb the sorrow, cook the meals, and serve as a reliable anchor of comfort.
Ecumenical Leadership
The archives highlight Shirley’s unique gift for bridging gaps. She stepped up as a key coordinator for multi church coalitions across Zanesville, uniting different congregations to launch collaborative emergency winter shelter relief and community wide food programs.
The Humanitarian Era (1990s–2000s) • Building Regional Hope
Over 30 years at Eastside Community Ministries, Shirley made a lasting impact. Her work with the Free Fresh Produce Markets ensured local families had access to healthy, fresh food, and full plates.
Securing the Foundation through Mid-Ohio Grants
Shirley took the initiative to write and establish pivotal grants with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. Her efforts secured foundational food resources and structural funding, ensuring the pantry shelves remain stocked for decades to come.
The Children’s Champion
Shirley coordinated Tools for Schools by meticulously matching supplies to specific classroom checklists and orchestrated Lace Up for Kids by collaborating with school counselors to find exact shoe sizes, restoring dignity to thousands of local students before their first day of school.
Grassroots Neighborhood Advocacy
Going far beyond formal organization boundaries, Shirley acted as a personal lifeline. Long before homebound delivery systems existed, she physically packed up supplies and visited homebound neighbors throughout Muskingum County right at their doorsteps.
Foundations for Families
Shirley volunteered her hands and coordinating talents to Habitat for Humanity and Helping Hands, physically hammering nails and building secure, stable futures for lower income area families.
The Golden Years of Advocacy (2010s to Present) • Nurturing the Vulnerable
The “Souper Bowl” Visionary: Shirley poured her immense energy into the annual Souper Bowl for Seniors event. Newspaper archives track her not just as a kitchen volunteer, but as a driving coordinator who rallied local youth groups to serve, masterfully bridging generations across Zanesville’s generation gap.
Voice for the Voiceless
Shirley expanded her massive heart to animal advocacy, dedicating her precious time, love, and protection to the local Humane Society. She served as a past Vice President of the Muskingum County Animal Humane Society, reflecting her lifelong commitment to the welfare and protection of animals.
An Enduring Blueprint of Grace
Shirley leaves behind a permanent, living archive of selflessness. Her legacy stands as a reminder to all of Muskingum County that a life lived for others is the greatest life of all.
A Lifetime of Giving
For more than 40 years, Shirley volunteered approximately 40 hours each week without pay. Even while living on a fixed income, she continued giving from her own resources to causes close to her heart, particularly organizations dedicated to rescuing, protecting, and caring for animals. She also donated to organizations supporting the State Highway Patrol. If Shirley believed in a cause, she found a way to help.
Shirley was also civically involved and participated in Hillary Clinton’s campaign efforts in Muskingum County. It became a treasured experience in Shirley’s life, and she often remembered Hillary as “the nicest woman.” Shirley remained particularly proud of having been part of that moment.
The Memories That Remained
In Shirley’s later years, Alzheimer’s disease gradually took many of her recent memories, but it could not erase those rooted deeply in a lifetime of service and connection. She continued to remember her Central Presbyterian Church family, her Fellowship of Christ Community family, the Humane Society, her devotion to animals, and pieces of the community she had spent decades serving. Those memories remained because these people and places were never simply organizations or activities to Shirley. They were part of who she was.
With Gratitude to WillowHaven
Shirley’s family extends a heartfelt and special thank you to the staff of WillowHaven Rehabilitation and Care Center, who became her family during the final six years of her life. For a woman who spent so many years caring for others, her family will forever be grateful to those who cared for her when she needed it most. Thank you for the companionship, patience, dignity, kindness, and affection you gave Shirley and for making WillowHaven her home.
Her Family
For all the lives Shirley touched throughout her community, those she called family remained closest to her heart.
Although Shirley never had children of her own, she helped raise many of her nieces and nephews, loving and caring for them as her own. Her niece Stacy (Rob) Greiner and Stacy’s daughters, Josey, Katie, and Kassie, held a treasured place in Shirley’s heart. Her niece Kathy (Danny) Hoffer remained a steadfast presence in her life, and she is survived by her sister, Betty Shaffer; many nieces and nephews; their children; extended family; and her beloved cats, Boo Boo and Sylvester (Jr.) in the loving care of Katie, and Sushi (Sissy) in the loving care of Kassie.
In addition to her parents, Earl Roberts and Pauline Baker Roberts, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Delvin Harris; her siblings, Carolyn (George) Bethel, Judy (Herb) Goff, Ralph (Marty) Roberts, Russell (Grace) Roberts, and Ronald E. “Bubby” Roberts; her brother-in-law, Raymond Shaffer; her beloved niece, Cindy Roberts; and her nephew, Carl Roberts.
Services
Visitations for Shirley will be held Wednesday, September 23, 2026, from 1:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, where services will be held at 11:00 a.m. with Mary Perone officiating.
Following the service, Shirley will be laid to rest at Wesley Chapel Cemetery beside her beloved husband, Delvin.
Arrangements are being handled by DeLong-Baker & Lanning Funeral Home.
In Lieu of Flowers
In keeping with Shirley’s lifelong compassion for animals, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Muskingum County Humane Society or the local animal shelter. A pet-supply donation bin will be available at the services. Bring pet supplies, towels, toys, pads, and other needed shelter items. All collected items will be donated in Shirley’s memory.
Bubbles to Heaven
At the conclusion of the graveside service, family and friends are invited to join together in blowing bubbles in Shirley’s memory, sending them toward Heaven as a final expression of the love, joy, and beautiful memories she leaves with us.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 25:40
“Serve one another humbly in love.”
Galatians 5:13