Shirley Patricia Roth

Shirley Patricia O’Keefe Roth, January 5, 1925 – February 18, 2020

Shirley Roth, 95, of Johnson City, Tennessee joined the love of her life, Eugene (Gene) Roth, in Heaven on February 18, 2020.

Shirley was born in Perth, Australia, the daughter of Walter James and Wilhelmina Janice O’Keefe. She was the second of six children, four boys and two girls. At age sixteen, upon her mother’s death, Shirley was thrust into the role of raising her four younger siblings.
A few years later, she met an American sailor named Gene Roth, who while serving as a radio communications officer on a submarine during WW2, was sent to Perth for R&R. A classic love story evolved and after two years of letter writing, Shirley boarded a ship to America. They were married in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1947 and had their first son in 1949. Gene’s career with JC Penney’s led to positions in Georgia, Alabama, and ultimately Johnson City, TN where he was the manager of the downtown Penney’s store until his untimely death in 1975. She became an American citizen in 1954, which she considered an honor. She did her research and voted in every election up into her nineties. She considered voting a privilege.

Shirley’s primary focus was raising and taking care of her two children from the day they were born until they left the nest and after. During her children’s high school years, she not only welcomed all their friends at any time, she let several move in fulltime so they could finish high school in Johnson City after their parents had relocated.

While she worked outside the home on occasion when the family finances were tight most of her extra time was spent in volunteer roles. After Gene’s death, she escalated her charitable work to an even greater level. She was a tireless and selfless volunteer at the VA in the clothing store, Northside Hospital, American Red Cross, Teen Town, Second Harvest Food Bank, and many other organizations. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and was active in many ministries. She donated blood every three months well into her eighties. One of her favorite pastimes was kitting baby caps for hospital’s newborns as well as afghans for the homeless and seniors.

Shirley’s love of travel took her all around the world and most of the United States. She especially loved her trips to Australia to visit family. In her seventies, she led a group of seniors on a bus tour to the Pacific Northwest and Canada. She was an avid participant in a number of bridge groups. She welcomed any challenger in her favorite card game, “Hand and Food”, and cherished her Sunday afternoon games with her dear friend, Joan Reiser.
She was a Cub Scout - Den Mother and a Girl Scout - Leader for many years. She was always the first parent to sign up to chaperone dances, fieldtrips, beach trips, and sleepovers, etc.

When there was no one else to coach the 8th grade girls’ volleyball team, Shirley stepped in and led the team to win the City Championship. Although Shirley only had two biological children, she was a mother figure to countless young people she encountered over the years, many of whom have continued to call or visit throughout her life.

In addition to her spouse and parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her brother, Stanley O’Keefe and his wife Shirley, brother Eric O’Keefe and his wife Vina, brother Mervin O’Keefe, sister Moira O’Keefe Francis and her husband Ray, and mother-in-law Marie R. Sweatt.

She is survived by her son Gary Roth and his wife Gail Johnson Roth and daughter Janice Roth Hayes and her husband John R. Hayes. She was “MeMaw” to four grandchildren: Kelley Roth Simpson and her husband Kevin Simpson, Jason Roth and his wife Rochelle McGowan Roth, John Eugene Hayes, Matthew O’Keefe Hayes and his wife Savannah Savitt Hayes, five great grandchildren: Hart and Sam Simpson, Abigail, Caitlin, and Bradley Roth, and her beloved Grandog Willie Hayes. She is also survived by her Australian family including her baby brother Eddie O’Keefe and his wife Colleen and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. She was especially close with her niece, Robyn O’Keefe Wightman, who has made several trips to the USA to visit her Auntie Shirley.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, 2211 E Lakeview Dr, Johnson City, TN 37601 (423-282-6367). Visitation will be held one hour before the service and there will be a reception following at St. Mary’s. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the St. Mary’s Catholic Church School or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.