Obituary of Shirley Lou Erickson

Shirley Lou Erickson (Ashcroft) 3/2/1933 – 6/25/2021 On the second of March 1933, Shirley Lou Ashcroft was born in Kansas to Cecil and Robert Ashcroft. She was raised in California and graduated from Orland High School in 1950. After getting married to Joe Erickson and having four wonderful children, in 1967 they decided to move across the pacific to the island of Oahu. Shirley reveled in the fact that she could raise her kids; Craig, Candy, Duane, and Jolie in the Hawaiian lifestyle while becoming a successful Realtor. In 1977 Shirley and Joe moved back to the mainland to Santa Cruz, California and remained there for a time but eventually decided to retire and resettle a stone throw eastward from where they both grew up, Chico, California, which brought them closer to their youngest son and his family, famously known as “Team Erickson”. These years of her life were filled to the brim with endless joy. She was active in her church, sang in the choir which she always loved to do, had monthly lunches with lifelong girlfriends, attended her grandchildren’s sporting events, even sewing their Halloween costumes. Going on adventure after adventure included many cruises with her husband to exotic locations such as Greece, Mexico and the Caribbean. She also went on frequent trips to Hawaii, Carson City, Nevada and North Carolina so she and Joe could visit their children and grandchildren. In 2015, Shirley started showing early signs of Dementia. Sadly, as it progressed, she would forget many, many things…but there is one thing she refused to forget, her loving husband Joe who remained her best friend for 71 years until the very end. We will forever miss her giggle, her wonderful stories and solid advice. We are comforted by the knowledge that she is with our Lord in Heaven and free from the pain and frustration of her loss of memory. Shirley is survived by her husband Joseph “Joe” Erickson. Her children Craig Erickson (Vicki) of Raleigh, North Carolina and their 2 daughters Hannah and Rachel Erickson; Candy Rodrigues (Mike) of Chico, California and her 2 sons, Adam Rodrigues (Simone) and their child Penelope; and Jonah Rodrigues (Deanna); Duane (Heidi) Erickson of Chico California and their children, Mallory Garcia (Blake) and their children Karson and Colin; Zachary Erickson, and Hailey Bolanos (Chris); and Jolie Higgins (Sid) of Dayton, Nevada and their 2 sons, Shane and Nicholas Higgins. A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at the Evangelical Free Church of Chico located at 1193 Filbert Avenue, Chico, CA. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Shirley Lou Erickson, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.