Shirley M. Okland

On Sunday, June 28th, 2020 Shirley Mae Hubbell Okland died of natural causes at the age of 85.   

Shirley was born August 5, 1935 in Amboy, Illinois to Marvin and Helen (Starks) Hubbell.  Shirley was the youngest of three children and the only girl.  Shirley had the charm and dark curls to rival her likely namesake Shirley Temple.  She was clever and an “A” student graduating from Amboy High School the class of 1953.   Also in 1953 Shirley married Richard (Dick) Dewey remaining married 37 years.  

As a child Shirley grew up on West Provost Street in Amboy and returned to West Provost as a young wife and mother living in the white house with the large lawn and long white picket fence on the former location of the Amboy Grant School.  Shirley was smart, pretty, fashionable and driven.  Shirley worked throughout her life starting with the Dixon phone company, Amboy Rug Factory, The First National Bank of Amboy, Gascoigne Electronic, USDA ASCS office, and as a real-estate broker.  Throughout her life Shirley often returned to Sauk Valley College for additional courses ranging from accounting, computer science and the arts.  

Shirley was a loving mother and instilled a sense of hard work and a belief there are no limits to what you can achieve.  Shirley was a perfectionist and could do anything from sewing, to furniture refinishing.  Shirley had been an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  Shirley loved music, played the piano and was a fan of Andre Previn, Roger Williams and Victor Borge who combined music and humor.   Shirley encouraged her children to play the piano, guitar and saxophone.  Shirley had a sharp wit and liked to laugh.  She was a fan of Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Lily Tomlin, David Frye and of course Johnny Carson.  One of her favorite Lily Tomlin quotes was “I always wanted to be somebody, now I realize I should have been more specific”.  She enjoyed late night conversations with friends on candle lit porches and screen houses.  Shirley traveled and some highlights included Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York, London, Paris, Las Vegas (including a Cher concert) and closer to home frequent trips to Chicago, Galena and Lake Geneva. 

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, brother Warren Hubbell, husband Richard Dewey, husband Peter Okland, husband Charles Rogers, grandson Corey Dewey, and son-in-law Michael Draper. 

Shirley is survived by her children Sandra Draper of Amboy, Rich (Monica) Dewey of Mendota, Brian Dewey (Michael Tighe) of New York, Brett (Sheila) Dewey of Amboy, 6 grandchildren Jonathan Draper, Matthew (Katie) Draper, Annette (Greg) Cyrocki, Ashley (Johnny) Bulfer, Josh (Bree) Shepard, Chelsea White, granddaughter in law Heather Schmidt, 9 great grandchildren, Curtis and Madison Draper, Ashton, Logan, Meghan Dewey, and Ellyn Schmidt, Anna and Blake Cyrocki and Alyxandria Shepard.  She is also survived by her brother Earl Hubbell.  

For her time and place Shirley had that spark of more. 

A public visitation will be held on Friday, July 3, 2020 from 8:30 – 10:30 AM at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Dixon.  A private funeral will take place immediately following with Reverend Daniel Behmlander of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Rock Falls officiating.   Private burial will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. 

Due to COVID-19 guidelines, a maximum of 50 people will be allowed inside the funeral home at one time and masks are required.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to Temperance Hill Cemetery in Amboy.

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