Shirlee Lourise Champ

Shirlee Lourise Champ, 63, of Missoula, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017.

She was born on Dec. 1, 1953 in Missoula to Bud and Jackie Buss. Shirlee was the oldest of three daughters. She attended Sentinel High School and graduated in 1972. She attended college classes at the Vo Tech.

In 1976, Shirlee married her husband of 17 years, Dean Champ. They had 2 children together. After Dean’s sudden passing in 1993, Shirlee continued to live and work in Missoula. She went to work at C.S. Porter Middle School working in the lunchroom. She liked being around the kids and could keep an eye on her son at the same time. After several years of that, she went on to work at Truckers Express where she retired due to medical reasons.

Shirlee loved the color purple! To say she loved it may be an understatement! If it came in purple, she had it! She loved watching the Minnesota Wild and was their biggest fan in Montana. When she wasn’t watching hockey, she was watching wrestling. She spent a lot of time at Flathead Lake fishing and admiring the beautiful sunsets. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, crocheting and other crafts she’d see and try. She often would often remind her children that she had been making her own clothes since the 2nd grade. She loved recipes. If it looked like something she might make, she printed it and saved for when that special occasion would come for her to make it. Nothing made her happier than being with her dog, Belle, and her family.

Shirlee was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend that was loved by many and will be missed by many more.

She is proceeded in death by her husband, parents, sister, Melodee Drake and long time friend, Doug White.

She is survived by her beloved dog, Belle, her children, Heather (Rick) Bronwell of Minnesota, Mike ( Lindsay) Champ of Missoula, her sister Shellee Buss of Alaska, and the lights of her life, her granddaughters, Ashleigh and Addison, both of Minnesota. She is also survived by three nieces, Tifanni (Michael) Watkins, Ronan, Deven Cornell, Missoula, Karinna Solem, Missoula and one nephew, Derek Drake, Florence.

A memorial service will be held at Garden City Funeral Home on Monday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m. A potluck reception will immediately follow in the funeral homes reception room. Condolences for the family may be sent to www.gardencityfh.com

Burial will follow at the Florence-Carlton Cemetery in Florence.