Mrs. Shirley Margaret Walton passed away at the age of 91 on May 8, 2023, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She is survived by her husband, Robert G. Walton, and children, Anne Walton, John Walton, Matt Walton and wife Patricia, Robert Walton and wife Kim, and Warren Walton and wife Karen. She was preceded in death by her parents John Knox and Mildred Burch Knox; and son, Robbie Walton. Shirley is also survived by her sister, Eleanore Cannon, and 13 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Shirley was born on August 22, 1931, in San Diego, California. She spent the early years of her life in the Humbolt Bay area. When she was a teenager, she moved with her parents to Japan shortly after the close of World War II. Later she moved to Raton, NM with her parents and sister and attended Raton High School. Shirley finished her education in Japan where her father worked for the U.S. Government. She married Robert G. Walton of Raton, NM in 1953. Shirley traveled with her husband and children overseas and around the United States as an Air Force wife. Shirley made it her life mission to support her husband’s career, supporting the household while her husband was deployed to Thailand during the Vietnam War. After their career ended with the Air Force, Robert, and Shirley retired in Raton, NM. Shirley was elected Probate Judge for one term. She became an accomplished artist, showing her art at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs. Shirley and Robert came out of retirement to run the Haas Ranch in Aguilar Colorado. They both firmly believed this to be the highlight of their 69 years of marriage. These years on the ranch allowed Shirley to grow as an artist and show off her cooking prowess, as she fed many a cowboy after brandings. Her pies and cakes were fabulous. No one ever went away hungry.
