Shirley Fleet

Shirley Rees Fleet    “beloved sister and aunt”

COUDERSPORT---Shirley Rees Fleet, 93, a longtime resident of Coudersport, passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2017, in Cole Memorial Hospital, Coudersport, after a long illness.

Born on December 13, 1923 in Nanticoke, she was a daughter of John H. and June A. Thomas Rees.  On August 18, 1956 in the First Presbyterian Church in Nanticoke, she married Walter R. Fleet, Jr., who passed away on July 14, 2011.

Shirley was a graduate of Nanticoke High School and was a graduate of Wilkes College in Wilkes Barre.  She received her Master’s degree in Biological Sciences from Penn State University.  She was a biology/chemistry teacher in Matawan, NJ and also in Sayre, Pa.  She was also a real estate broker in Flemington, NJ. 

Shirley was a member of the Park United Methodist Church in Coudersport, where she served as a lay pastor and was a member of the choir. She was a former member of the Coudersport Golf Club and a former member of the former Coudersport Women’s Bowling League. Shirley was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was an accomplished writer having published poetry and family cookbooks. She had previously served as a volunteer at Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport and also served as a volunteer at Sweden Valley Manor. She was a lover of the outdoors. She greatly loved her time spent at her home on Lake Silkworth and her home in Coudersport.  She cherished her family, church and many friends.

Surviving are a brother, Ronald David Rees of Nanticoke; a sister, Mildred Plummer of Jenkintown; and many nieces and nephews, including John F. (Linda) Domaleski of Coudersport, Martha J. (David) Pennell of Galeton, June (Roy) Hill of Wellsboro, Robert Leete of Coudersport, John Plummer of Delaware, Edward “Butch” Rees of South Carolina, Tom (Cindy) Leete of Sterling, Alaska, Mary C. Rees, John (Zanetta) Rees and Edie Rees, all of Tonawanda, Mal Rees, Julie (Francis) Hummer, Jamie (Robert) Bozinski, all of Nanticoke, Patti Vaughn of Berwick, Molly Rees Gavin of Farmington, CT, Joanne (Robert) Kaczor of Meriden, CT and Susan Onaitis of Bordentown, NJ..

In addition to her parents and husband, Shirley was predeceased by eleven siblings, Malvern Rees, George Edward Rees, Laureen Ann Watts, Lois Mae Leete, Mary R. Domaleski, Almena Vaughn, Grace Rosalee Pfuntner, Madge Rees, Laurence Rees, John H. Rees, Jr. and Jane Turley.

Family and friends may call from 11am to noon on Saturday, December 2, 2017, at the Park United Methodist Church, Coudersport, where a memorial service will follow at noon with the Rev. Scott Ogden, pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in Eulalia Cemetery, Coudersport.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Park United Methodist Church, 15 East 3rd Street, Coudersport, PA 16915 or to Cole Memorial Hospital, 1001 East Second Street, Coudersport, PA 16915.

Shirley’s family has entrusted her care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, Funeral Director/Owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.

To express condolences or share a fond memory of Shirley, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com