Shirley Moyer

Shirley Moyer (nee Van Houten), age 79 of Wayne, died on Friday, January 15, 2021. She had been a resident of Wayne since 1964.

Shirley grew up in Paterson and graduated from Eastside High School.  She was a champion roller-skater, winning awards at many local skating competitions, and she just loved to roller skate! She also enjoyed visiting the Jersey Shore with her friends, hanging out in Seaside Heights. After becoming a mother, many of their family vacations were to the Jersey Shore as well, and the beach always ranked highly among Shirley’s favorite places to visit.

Shirley was able to travel over the years, visiting Bermuda, Mexico, and friends in Panama City, Florida. She also enjoyed a group of close friends who she would play Canasta with; collectively known as the “Canasta bitches,” and they know who they are! Shirley also enjoyed shopping, particularly for clothes and jewelry.  At one point, she took a job working at a jewelry kiosk in the Wayne Hills Mall. It probably wasn’t the best way to earn some extra money, because she often spent much of her paycheck on merchandise at her own kiosk! She was also a great cook, talented seamstress, and she enjoyed crocheting. She taught her daughter to sew as well, and also passed the skills on to her granddaughter. Shirley was also a fan of classic movies. When her grandson, Michael, was just a little kid, she would call ‘movie night’ and they would watch classic films, like Casablanca, together. Those special times made for some great memories. Shirley was also an animal lover, primarily of her dogs.  She had about six dogs throughout the years, with her Shih Tzu named Suki, and her Golden Retriever named Dusty being her two favorites.

Shirley was a member of Parents without Partners (PWP) and loved to dance.

Sadly, tragedy visited Shirley on more than a few occasions. In 1994, she suffered a debilitating stroke at just fifty-two years old, taking her ability to walk and speak. She defied their predictions and eventually regained her mobility and speech. Her brother, Phil, would often visit her and take her out to dinner most Friday nights.  She loved this time with Phil, and she was devastated when he passed away in 2002. Then, in 2014, her son Jeff passed away and this broke her heart. She’s been carrying that heavy grief ever since. There is comfort in knowing that she is peacefully reunited with them all once again, holding a Benson & Hedges in one hand, and a scotch & soda in the other.

Shirley is survived by two children; Deborah Craffen and her husband Stephen of Ringwood, and Joseph Moyer ​and his wife Maureen of Frisco, Texas, four grandchildren; Michael Ward, Carly Craffen, Sean Moyer, and Erin Moyer. She was predeceased by her son, Jeff in 2014, and by her dear brother Philip Van Houten in 2002.