Shirley Jane Cader
Sept. 14, 1942- Sept. 22, 2026

Shirley Jane Cader was born in Louisiana in the autumn of 1942 on September 14th. She was the fourth of eight children from parents Melvina and Travis Cader.

When the family was still young and only with four children, Travis moved them to California looking for work, where they eventually settled in McKinleyville. It was there that Travis built a house for the family and the four younger sisters were born. With her older siblings married and moved away Shirley met her first husband, Chalmer.

Shirley raised three sons and moved through the Pacific Northwest throughout the years before settling back in Humboldt County. She was joined by her three sons and their families in 1989.

In early 1990, Shirley dedicated her life to the Lord and the care of her family, focusing her time and attention daily on the well-being of her mother, Melvina, and her grandchildren.

She was a devoted mother to her three sons — Lee, Timothy and James — and a loving grandmother to many grand- and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family. Being blessed with such a selfless and loving heart, she took in many people and children who weren’t her own and served that role as a mother and frandma for those needing love, support and a safe place, guiding them to devote themselves and find strength in Jesus. As the foundation of our family, she remained steadfast in her faith and dedicated to serving the Lord. She prioritized the needs of her loved ones above her own, providing an example of selfless devotion and guidance for us all serving God. She never turned anyone away who asked for help, she never judged and she always showed compassion. She put her faith in the Lord and allowed him to work through her.

She dedicated many years to working at the Food Bank in McKinleyville, traveling from store to store to collect food for those in need. Each year, she would fundraise and assemble Easter baskets at the church for children who might otherwise have received nothing. She was blessed with a heart for giving and making children smile. She took great pride in providing and helping others.

She found hobbies in yardsaleing, crafting, drawing, writing poetry and especially spending time with her grandchildren.

Over the last few years, after many years of dedicating her life to taking care of others, it was her time to rest and be taken care of. Son James and wife Angela devoted their time daily for the last few years supporting and attending to her needs as her health slowly waned, along with the help of her sister Jan.

My grandmother celebrated her 84th birthday on September 14, 2026, and peacefully passed away to be with the Lord on September 22, 2026. She is survived by her three sons, James and his wife Angela, Lee and his wife Patty, and Timothy and his wife Dianne, as well as her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and the countless individuals whose lives she touched throughout her years. She was a Christian, she was selfless, she loved us, she was our foundation. We miss her dearly.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

She is preceded in death by her eldest son, Jimmy; her parents, Melvina and Travis; her brothers, LeTrell and Travis; and her sisters, Anne, Linda, Carolynn and Emily.

Services to be held at Blue Lake Community Church on Nov. 14 at 12 p.m. Ceremony to be performed by Pastor Kerry Houston.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Shirley Cader’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.