Shirlee Carlson was born October 10, 1939 in Somes Bar. Her mother was Ella McCash and her father was Clinton Albers. Shirlee lived in Somes Bar for a few years and then was given up to foster care. Throughout her childhood she lived within many homes. Some of the more memorable families that she lived with where the White Family of Orick and the Bommelyn Family of Del Norte County.

Shirlee and her brother John also enjoyed living with Mrs. Dick for awhile and attended Chimawa Indian school growing up. Shirlee graduated high school and then met the love of her life Willard Carlson Sr. while living down river at Johnson’s with the preacher and his family at the church at Johnson’s. Willard and Shirlee met, fell in love and got married.

Shirlee was a very loving and devoted wife and mother. She and her husband Willard had six children together: Brooke, Shaleen, Allison, Forrest, Karrie and Trish. Shirlee graduated from Fredrick and Charles Beauty School and worked at times as a beautician. Shirlee also worked at a tree nursery, bulb and potato farms, for the forest service and catering during fire seasons, as a caregiver, at Mad River Hospital as a housekeeper and at UIHS as a housekeeper. She enjoyed working and helping others and worked well into her seventies. Shirlee enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends and family.

She had many good friends including Dee Sullivan, the Montgomery family, Russel and Mildred Montgomery, Carl and Sandy Begaye, Marion, and many others. Her favorite pastime by far was playing her favorite game Bingo!! She would travel far and wide to attend Bingo games and was quite lucky sometimes. Shirlee was a great friend, mother, she was funny, sweet, generous, kind and also was a very hard worker. She will be missed dearly!!!

Shirlee is survived by her daughters Karrie and Trish grandchildren; Chad, Chasta, Chelsea, and Forest Jr.; great-grandchildren Emily, Adrionna, and Keanu, as well as her stepchildren Willard Sr, Anne and Shon and their Children and grandchildren.

Shirlee was proceeded in death by her beloved husband of over 50 years Willard Carlson Sr, her brothers John, Herbie, and Kerby and sister Alta and brother-in-law Archie. She was also proceeded in death by her children Allison, Shaleen, Brooke, and Forrest.

Visitation for Shirlee will be at her residence in Blue Lake on Monday September 14th from 6-9 p.m. Please stay home if not feeling well, wear a mask if you would like to come say goodbye to Shirlee. Hand sanitizer will be available for use. A graveside burial will take place the following day Tuesday September 15th at 1 p.m. at the Yurok Veteran’s Cemetery on Bald Hills Road.

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