Shirley Jean Carlin

Shirley Jean (Johnson) Carlin passed away January 29, 2026. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend to many. She was born April 15, 1931 in Letcher, South Dakota, to Nello and Eloise Johnson. Shirley’s family were farmers in South Dakota and Washington State. Shirley preferred reading in the hay loft to chores around the farm. Before graduating from Nursing School in Wessington Springs, SD, in 1951, Shirley graduated High School, candled eggs and worked for the Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company in Minnesota.

Working as a nurse in Denver in the mid-50’s, she caught the eye of a young doctor, and married Allan W. Carlin on November 28, 1958. Shirley left her nursing duties to be a mother in 1961 when Cindy (Lucinda Gayle) was born. Next came Roger in 1962 and Barry in 1965. The family has been associated with the Lakewood Church of Christ since 1962 and those friendships continue to this day. Shirley and Allan were active church members and participants in missions work, travelling multiple times to the work in Bhimavaram, India.

Shirley is survived by Cindy and her family; husband Curt, daughters Carly and Jenna and son Jake; Roger and his wife Jenny and their son, Wiley; Barry and his wife, Joy. Shirley was preceded in death by Allan and her brothers Bud and Dell Johnson.