Shirley Mae Maples Olsen

Shirley Mae Olsen, age 101, passed away in Grand Junction, CO (formerly of Logan, UT) on Saturday, July 8, 2023. She was born in Nahunta, Wayne County, North Carolina to Bertha Allah Aycock and Charlie Maples. She was the sixth of nine children (six sisters and two brothers) and was raised on the family farm.

Shirley graduated from Nahunta High School. She and her sister, Ruby, were stars on the high school basketball team and went to state two years in a row.

When World War II broke out, Shirley and two of her sisters went to work at the Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia. While attending church, she met a naval officer from Cache Valley named Newell Preston Olsen, who became her husband on September 2, 1949. They were happily married for 57 years. They were the parents of three children, Dwight Maples Olsen, Debra Olsen, and Marta Olsen Albee.

Three of Shirley's sisters also married Cache Valley men so the sisters and their families were close throughout the years. Shirley and her sisters loved to make quilts and it was fun for the cousins to hang out under the quilt frames that took up the entire living room and listened to the stories and jokes our moms would tell.

Preston had a construction business and the family would travel and live in a trailer wherever the job was. In 1961 the family was involved in a terrible head-on collision in Lander, WY. Shirley, Preston, Dwight, Debbie and Grandma were all in the car. Baby Marta and Grandpa Olsen were at home.

Everyone survived, but little ten-month old Debbie was left with severe brain damage. The family loved Debbie dearly and cared for her until she passed away at 36.

Shirley was a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was involved with Relief Society and various other church callings. Anyone who knows Shirley will tell you she is one of the sweetest, kindest people on the planet.

Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, Newell Preston Olsen, her son, Dwight Maples Olsen, a daughter, Debra Olsen, her parents, sisters Rachel Maples, Ollie Maples Jones, Betty Maples Chesnutwood, Ruby Maples Haws, Dorothy Maples Schvaneveldt, Martha Maples Smith, and her brothers Hyrum Richard Maples, and Henry Thomas Maples. She is survived by her daughter, Marta Olsen Albee, son-in-law James H. Albee, two grandchildren Danielle Swartz, and Chris Olsen and six great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held Saturday July 15, 2023 at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E Center St., Logan. A graveside will follow at 12:00 pm, at the Providence City Cemetery, 925 River Heights Blvd. River Heights.