Obituaries

Shirley Jean Hudson, 87, of Kincheloe, Michigan, died on Friday, October 18, 2024. She was born in Askel, Michigan, on August 21, 1937, to Arvo and Senia (Heikkinen) Hanka.

Shirley spent the first twelve years of her life in Askel, before moving to Detroit, Michigan where she went on to have her three children that she absolutely adored. In 1960, she decided to move her family to the Upper Peninsula where she’s been in the Kincheloe area ever since. Shirley was a “Jill of all trades”, bartending, property rental management, and woodside cleaning supervisor, before finishing her career at the Social Security Office doing the Court Recordings. She worked there for 30 years before finally retiring.

Shirley was an avid golfer. She loved traveling, painting, and being a socialite. Nothing made her as happy as she was hosting a holiday party or get together. She loved, more than anything, spending time with friends and family. Her kids, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were the light of her life. There wasn’t an animal Shirley found that she didn’t love, she was always taking in strays.

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Vicki (Chris) Dougherty; son, Timothy (Phyllis) Orr; sister, Nina (Brent) Geskey; grandchildren, Brandy Godfrey, Erik Nayback, and Dallas Orr; and great-grandchildren, Austin, Macie, Miah, Shelby, and Evan.

Shirley was proceeded in death by her husband; parents, Arvo and Senia Hanka; son, Glen Orr; friend of the family, James Orr; brothers, George Hanka, Roy Hanka, Gordon Hanka, Edsel Hanka, and Paul Hanka; sisters, Florence Scott, Lorraine Kaskela, and Ruth Downs.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM with the funeral service to follow at 4:00 PM at Family Life Funeral Homes - Pickford, 24549 S. M-129, Pickford, Michigan, 49774.

A luncheon is to follow at 5:00 PM at Well Diggers, 3047 M-80, Kinross, Michigan, 49752.

The burial will be at North Rudyard Cemetery.