Preston, Ct ~
Heaven became much sweeter on the night of October 29, 2025, when the beautiful soul of Shirley Annette Russ entered the joy of life eternal with her Lord. Her presence here will be deeply missed.
Born on the Darrell estate in Stonington, CT on May 19, 1927, she was the eldest daughter of Benajah Lorrain Davis and Julia Palmer Davis. Her sister, Margaret Agnes Perrin, predeceased her in 2024.
Shirley married the love of her life, Robert Storrs Russ on June 19, 1948 and was blessed with 41 years of marriage until his untimely passing on May 4, 1989.
Her childhood years found her at her beloved Broadway School in Mystic. She was a Girl Scout, and also performed tap and ballet dance routines at local stages. Her love of dancing never left her.
Her memories of being carried a long distance through the deep waters after school in the 1938 hurricane remained ever vivid, and she recalled seeing New London on fire from her neighbor’s upper windows.
Brimming with ambition, Shirley graduated in 1945 with high honors from Stonington High School, where she participated in many extracurricular activities, including singing in the All-State chorus.
She then completed the Executive Secretarial program at the Katherine Gibbs School in Providence, where she graduated at the top of her class.
A highlight of her early career was being selected as the Executive Secretary to the Corporate Manager of the newly established Pfizer Corporation in Groton. The plant’s very first female employee, it was a position she absolutely loved. It was there, also, that a certain handsome young civil engineer named Bob Russ spotted Shirley at her desk, and soon their whirlwind romance blossomed into a long, happy marriage.
As their children reached school age, Shirley decided to pursue a career as a Real Estate Broker, powered by her firm belief in the value of an excellent education. Transporting them for years to Pine Point School in Stonington, this labor of love was truly her magnum opus.
Throughout her several decades in real estate, her passion for old colonial homes eventually grew into shared enjoyable adventures with colleagues, traveling the countryside together seeking out rare historic estates both in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Drawn to anything involving her passion for helping youth to thrive, Shirley introduced her family in the early 1970’s to the New Life Singers, a local musical ministry, and served on the board of Youth Encounter, Inc., its parent organization. Years of exciting musical concerts followed, traveling all over New England and beyond with this group of talented young people sharing faith in Jesus Christ.
As her family entered adulthood, Shirley relished finally having time for her own pursuits, such as enrolling in UConn at Avery Point, where she completed 2 years of studies, including English Literature, Zoology and Advanced French, (receiving A’s in all!). She travelled with her daughter to Europe, studied oil painting, and spent cherished time with her husband at his Alma mater, cheering on his Dartmouth team at fall football games.
Her strong passion for gardening was evident since childhood. As responsibilities lessened, it had the chance to come into full bloom in her life. She loved a wide variety of plants and trees, alpines and succulents, and rare native wildflowers. Out early to tend her gardens ‘til retiring at sundown was her idea of a perfectly glorious day ~ and she spent many of her days doing just that! She also enjoyed visiting various gardens, especially after joining ‘Naturescapes’ in the 1990’s and traveling throughout the U.S. How greatly she loved those years of garden touring with all of her many new friends.
During this same period, Shirley also treasured attending her beloved Preston City Congregational Church, which she joined in 1993. She gladly served on the children’s education committee, and her life was so richly blessed to be an integral part of her church’s many programs and circles of lasting fellowship and friendship. These church family bonds blessed and supported her even throughout her last years.
Shirley’s innate gift of artistic vision infused her every endeavor, whether fostering her children’s talents, searching out the ideal home for a real estate client, or designing her many gorgeous ‘beauty spots’ in the gardens on her bucolic Preston property.
Always known for her infectious smile, and her positive, generous spirit, Shirley welcomed everyone she met with a heart full of genuine love. Her kind, sweet and trusting nature endeared her to others, as did her ready sense of humor. She loved to laugh, and greeted every day with eager anticipation until the last.
Shirley’s love was the heart of her family. The depth of her absolute devotion to her children was the hallmark of her life. She always cherished family gatherings above all else. Her children will be forever grateful for the sense of wonder, fun and excitement she always created for us. ‘Every day should be a celebration!’ she would exclaim. She instilled deeply meaningful values within them: her incredible love of life, her unwavering faith in God, her boundless passion for nature and animals, music and art, and her commitment to excellence, education, and living intentionally purposeful lives.
She will be forever missed by her three children, Randall Storrs Russ of Pawcatuck and wife, Denise, Dr. Peter Craig Russ of Pleasant Garden, N.C. and wife, Deborah, Lisa Ellen Russ Bucklin of Preston and husband, Grafton. Shirley was also the mother of two daughters, Cynthia Lee and Cheryl Linda, both sadly lost in infancy. Dear to her also were her grandson, Ryan Storrs Russ of New London, her close niece, Patricia Franklin of Ledyard and late husband, Lloyd, and nieces Susan Perrin, Jayne Haynes and husband, Douglas, and nephew David Perrin and wife, Lenore.
Shirley’s family wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to all those who cared for her and stayed in contact with her in her latter years. This includes: Kelly Gentile, Lyle and Michelle Boyden, Mary Carignan, Amy Cima and caregivers, the angelic Nurses and Patient Care Technicians at Mystic Healthcare, and her caring church family at Preston City Congregational Church.
A private family service and burial were held at Stonington Cemetery on November 7, 2025. A Celebration of Life in being planned and will take place in 2026. Details will be posted on Dinotofuneral.com.
Memorial contributions in Shirley’s name may be made to one of her cherished organizations below, or to a charity of your choosing.
Preston City Congregational Church
321 Route 164, Preston, CT 06365
860-887-4647
Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc.
P.O Box 49 Old Mystic, CT 06372
860-884-3500
Connecticut Junior Republic, Litchfield, CT
Contact CJR 860-567-9423
Assisting young people and their families to rise above challenges and find success.