Shirley Ann Ayres, 87, of Xenia, Ohio was taken into the loving arms of her Savior on Monday, June 6. She is survived by her five children, Sherry (Doug) Downs of Mt. Vernon, OH, Pam (Jim) Thompson of Miamisburg, OH, Jim (Jennifer) Ayres of Grove City, OH, Tom (Donna) Ayres of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Vincent (Kelly) Ayres of KY; 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Jim Ayres, and a grandson, Adam Ratliff.

Shirley enjoyed babysitting children for a number of years. She, along with her husband, led 4-H clubs in Xenia, and newspaper boys (and girls) for the Dayton Daily News and the Dayton Journal. Shirley retired from Third National Bank (now Key Bank) after working her way up from filing checks to Vice President of Operations. Following retirement, she and her husband, Jim, opened a craft shop in Beavercreek called Sweetheart Creations, that was most known for their concrete geese and goose clothes that they made. Sweetheart Creations always displayed goose scenes in front of their shop at the holidays. Shirley was also a quilter. She enjoyed making beautiful quilts for her family and friends.

Shirley was a member of the Xenia First Church of the Nazarene where she served as a Sunday School teacher, choir member, and church board member. She truly loved the Lord.

Her funeral service will be held at the First Church of the Nazarene, Xenia, OH on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at 11:00am. Friends are welcome to come for a visitation time beginning at 10:00am that morning.  In lieu of flowers, Shirley requested any donations be made to the Church of the Nazarene Missions.

The Neeld Funeral Home is handling the arrangements for the family.