SHIRLEY JANE LINCK CARLSON died Oct. 20, 2008, in Tucson.

She was born Aug. 16, 1920, to Leroy Eugene “Jack” Linck and Florence Lucille Rideau in Goldroad, Ariz., an early-day mining town that has now become a ghost town.

In 1927, upon confirming Fairbanks had an excellent school and new university, Jack accepted an offer from his employer, the U.S. Smelting, Refining & Mining Co., to transfer to its new Alaska branch, the Fairbanks Exploration Co., and the family moved north.

Shirley went to high school at both Fairbanks Public Schools and Holy Names Academy in Seattle, Wash. She attended Maryhurst College in Portland, Ore. and the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. She loved learning and adapted eagerly to computers later in life. Shirley worked as a telephone operator, a bank clerk at Fairbanks National Bank, and as a legal secretary and office manager for the Parrish law firm in Fairbanks for many years.

Her love of cooking is legend and was very much enjoyed by all who knew her and looked forward to her famous Christmas cookies. She was very skilled in embroidery and crewelwork, loved to read, play cards and listen to music - especially the three tenors (Carreras-Domingo-Pavarotti) and Strauss waltzes.

She married Clarence “Care” Carlson in Fairbanks in December 1947. They enjoyed dancing and traveling in their 45 years together until Care died in 1993. They had moved to Green Valley in 1979 and spent many enjoyable years living in the sun and leaving the snow behind. They thoroughly loved Green Valley and their newfound friends. Many admired her and will miss her courage, faith and wit in the face of life’s adversities.

Shirley outlived her parents, husband, and one brother, Lee S. Linck. Survivors include her sister and brother-in-law, Helen Atkinson and Con Frank of Fairbanks and their extended family, including Phyllis (Murray) Tate of Fairbanks; Gayle McDonald of Encino, Calif.; Avriel Rideau of Tucson, who lovingly visited Shirley often; Ben (Stephanie) Atkinson of Wasilla, Alaska; brother Don Linck of Elko, Nevada and his extended family, including Don (Linda) Linck II of Lafayette, Calif.; Sandy (Rod) Herrick of Hamilton, Mont.; Susie (Mark) Sanders of Elko; Judy (Jim) Bell of Alta, Calif; the family of deceased brother Lee S. (Gert) Linck, including Nancy (Terry) Kelly of Fairbanks; Marc Linck of Fairbanks; Greg Linck of Buckeye; and stepbrother Jim Moody of Fairbanks.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Heartland Hospice, 2980 N. Campbell Ave #190B, Tucson, AZ 85719 or to Friends of the Joyner-Green Valley Library, 601 N. La Canada Dr. #101, Green Valley, AZ 85614.