Shirley Skehan Read passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at the age of 92. She was born on June 13, 1924 in Yonkers, New York, moving to Freehold with her family at a very young age. She married her high school sweetheart, Harry W. Read, in 1942 and they celebrated 69 years of marriage in August 2011. Her husband, Harry, predeceased Shirley in 2012. In addition to two grandchildren, two sisters, Rita Douglass and Gladys McCarthy, and a brother, Richard Skehan, also predeceased her. Shirley is survived by her six children, Sue Ann Smith and her husband Daryl, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Cheryl Vota and her husband William, Wickatunk, Nancy Ollwerther and her husband Don, Freehold Township, Judith Probasco, Perrineville, Harry Read Jr., and his wife Patti, Camden, Maine, and Richard Read and his wife Kim, Manasquan. She is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.

Shirley graduated from Freehold High School in 1941. She worked as the Program Assistant for the United States Department of Agriculture/Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Service for 31 years, retiring in 1986. Shirley was a 75-year active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Freehold, where she served as a member of the Altar Guild, taught Sunday School, was a confirmation sponsor and assisted with the Outreach Dinner Program. Together with her husband, Shirley successfully managed the St. Peter’s Thrift Shop for more than 10 years. Shirley was a member of a bridge club that enjoyed playing every Tuesday evening for over 50 years. She was very supportive of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and their varied activities.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 pm – 8 pm, Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at the Freeman Funeral Home, 47 East Main street, Freehold. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 10:00 am at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Throckmorton Street, Freehold. Burial will be at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Peter’s Church Capital Campaign Fund, In Shirley’s memory.