Shirley J. Conant

1933 – 2015

AUBURN — Shirley J. Conant, 82, passed away on Saturday, March 21, at Clover Manor nursing home in Auburn.

She was born on Feb. 18, 1933, in Gowanda, N.Y., the daughter of Byron and Margaret (Conklin) Leugemors.

She graduated from Forestville Central High School in New York in 1951, where she served as secretary of her senior class and was involved in many clubs. She went on to Beauty School of Cosmetology in Buffalo, N.Y. She later worked at AAA as an office manager in Morristown, N.J.

After moving to Maine, she worked at A.M. Harmon Insurance Co. (School Insurance for the state of Maine) in Portland. She later ran a daycare in her East Auburn home for 10 years. Finally, she worked for 18 years at One-Right Systems in Lewiston, before her retirement.

She married the love of her life, Roger F. Conant, and together they raised five children while residing in East Auburn.

She was a member of several clubs including the East Auburn Community Unit, serving as president of the Women’s Auxiliary and running concessions for beano, making homemade sandwiches and her chocolate and peanut butter fudge. She also baked gingerbread for the Little World’s Fair and was on the bowling team. She belonged to the Twin City Squares, traveling many places with Roger and friends. She was a Brownie troop leader and a member of the East Auburn PTA. She was also a faithful member of the East Auburn Baptist Church.

She decorated many beautiful cakes for every occasion, including wedding cakes for family, friends and co-workers. She also loved collecting cat figurines, playing bingo, doing puzzles and watching the Red Sox.

After Roger’s passing in 2003, she resided at Clover Manor for 12 years, where she became president of the Resident Council. She loved spending time with family at the holidays and having visitors at Clover.

She is survived by her five children, daughter, Cindy and her husband, Scott, Taylor of Turner; son, Gary and wife, Janice Conant, of Auburn; daughter, Tracey and husband, Steve Berry, of Turner; daughter, Sherry and husband, Anthony Pare of Minot; son, James and Brigita of Nahant, Mass. Ten grandchildren; Lindsay Valentine and husband Michael, Brian Taylor, Heidi Parent and husband Paul, Sarah Conant, Greg Conant, Eric Berry, Shawn Berry, Brandon Pare, Chris Pare, and Matthew Conant; three great-grandchildren, Mackenzie Valentine, Tristan Valentine and Ariel Conant; her four siblings, Norman Bromley of Angola, N.Y., David Leugemors of Henrietta, N.Y., Carol Ingersoll of Willamsville, N.Y., and Richard Leugemors of Snyder, N.Y.

She was predeceased by her sister, Alberta Patterson; and brother, Roger Leugemors.

The family would like to thank the caring staff at Clover Manor for the many years of thoughtful care she received.