Shirley Stephens

11/23/1946 — 3/20/2026

Service Date: 3/28/2026
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Shirley Kay Zolber Stephens
Born: November 23, 1946
Passed: March 20, 2026
Shirley was born in Seattle, Washington to Clayton and Alta Zolber, while Clayton was stationed in the United States Army. Through her early stages of life, she grew up alongside her older sister Barbara, and her two younger sisters Kandy and Jo Anne. The sisters attended the Moscow SDA Church School and went to the Moscow Seventh Day Adventist Church with their parents. The family lived in several places throughout Washington, Montana, and Northern Idaho before settling down in Troy where Shirley attended high school.
Shirley loved to cook and quickly found her way into the world of food service. She started her career as a cook for Rosauers in Moscow. Her career as a chef took a leap forward as she and her mom, Alta, bought, owned, and operated the "Country Kitchen" in Moscow. She then took on her own business, and started the "Mt. Deary Cafe." Before hanging up her apron, she took on the "WhitePine Cafe" in Troy with her two daughters. Shirley kept her family close, working with her grandpa, her daughters, and her sisters which made this time of life her most favorite.
Shirley and Fred Stephens Jr. were married on May 25, 1969 and enjoyed living their life with their two children Lisa and Angela. Shirley earned her title of grandma with the birth of her grandchildren Kayla Erdman, Cody Mael, Amanda Dickinson, and Hailey Gustin; including step grandchildren Colby, Kelsey, and Jessica Johanson. She was also called great grandma or "GG" by her 9 great-grandchildren. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents Clayton and Alta, her husband Fred, and her daughters Lisa and Angela.
If you knew Shirley, you know that she was famous for her bartending skills and that she
made many friends while working behind the bar. Shirley was also a woman of many other talents. She often participated in Black Powder Club Rendezvous, camping and fishing, the Troy Bridge Club, all sorts of card games like Poker, Black Jack, and Texas Hold Em, and she enjoyed attending C.B. Club where her "handle" was "Big Mama." The sisters were also known to have very serious card game nights which consisted of Pinnacle and Canasta.
Please join us for Shirley's memorial service at the Troy Seventh Day Adventist Church
on Saturday, March 28th at 4:00 P.M.