Shirley was born and raised in Southern Minnesota. She attended Purdue University for one year and Iowa State for one year for a teacher's certificate. She loved to travel, so she became a tour leader till 1992. That following year, she moved to Apache Junction, AZ, where she worked for the Apache Junction Chamber of Commerce until 1998. She was asked to work for the Superstition Mountain Museum at Goldfield Ghost Town and to follow its latest location. She was an honorary Dutchman in 2000 for her efforts for the Lost Dutchman Days. She retired from the museum in 2006 and married Jerry Baer. They set off on more travel in the USA, staying in Apache Junction for 9 months and traveling to see friends and family the rest of the year. After a very long 9-year battle with osteoarthritis, she passed on September 17th, 2024. She is survived by her husband, Jerry; brother Eddie; and sister Sally.