Shirley Y. Baumgartner

Shirley Y. Baumgartner, 89, of Battle Creek, died January 3, 2026 peacefully at home. Shirley was born February 11, 1936 in Battle Creek to Harry (James) and Agnes (Snook). She worked as a home maker, held several manufacturing jobs throughout the years and opened & ran Battle Creek Uphostery with her husband Walt Wilkey & son Don Reed. After Walt’s death she continued the business as Shirley’s Emporium & Antiques for a decade. She expressed her artistic talents in her home, business and landscape. She loved the cabin up north and all the memories of family gatherings there throughout the years. Above all, she loved her family. Her children & grandchildren were her life.

Shirley was a lifelong learner. She loved learning new things and was always eager to add to her crafting skillset, be it upholstery, ceramics, weaving textiles or restoring antiques. She was an accomplished cook and homemaker as well as businesswoman. She had great empathy for those who had fallen on hard times and was always ready to extend a helping hand, occasionally even taking some into her own home. She was a determined problem solver, never accepting the words, “this cannot be done”, she would find a way. Her wit and humor were legend and stories of her hijinks will be repeated often when we remember her. Words fail to express the sum of her life and what she meant to each one of us. She was a great & beautiful mother.

Shirley is survived by her four daughters, Robin Reed, Deborah Bettencourt, Melody Jankowski and Amy Newby. She is also survived by three grandsons, Paul Reed, Julian Reed and Mason Newby; five granddaughters, Amber Green, Ashley Reed, Brandy Richardi, Jennifer (Patrick) Paniccia & Taylor (Sonny) Vick); eight great-grandsons, eight great- granddaughters, one great great-grandson and one great great- granddaughter.

Funeral services to celebrate Shirley’s life will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 8, 2026 at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Three Rivers, MI. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, starting at 10:00 a.m. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.