Shirley Crawford Brouillard

Shirley Crawford Brouillard, 94, of Englewood, Florida, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 4, 2024, at Venice Health and Rehab in Venice, Florida.

Shirley was born on June 14, 1930, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Medie M. and Ollie (Neal) Crawford. She spent her childhood in Chattahoochee and Appalachicola, Florida, later moving to Charleston, South Carolina, eventually settling in Andrews, South Carolina. She met and married Timothy Freeman in 1947. They had five children, Dewayne, Mary Lou, Elizabeth, Larry and Timothy. They raised their kids on the Freeman farm in the area of Big Dam Swamp in Andrews, South Carolina, eventually moving to Englewood, Florida. They were married until his death in 1973.

Through a mutual friend, Shirley agreed to go on a blind date with Leslie Brouillard. They were married in 1975 until his death in 2008.

Shirley retired from the Charlotte County School Board as a Food Service Assistant at Lemon Bay School in 1991

She always had a positive outlook on life, with a beautiful smile. She really enjoyed traveling and seeing the USA. She especially loved camping, where she made many lifelong friends. She loved playing card and board games, listening to classic country music, especially Alan Jackson. She loved the holidays when family gathered. For many years, she enjoyed going to Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge and catching lots of beads. She accumulated quite a collection of Gone With The Wind memorabilia.

She is survived by her three sons, Dewayne A. (Kris), Larry E. and Timothy M. Freeman; her daughter, Elizabeth F. Nikla; 8 grandchildren: Tammie (Rick) Huffman, Tina (Philip) Hoeffner, Robert (Dorinda) Freeman, Eric Ross, Krystle Ross, Tony (Kelli) Freeman, Kimberly (Seth) Robinson and Timothy G. Freeman; 16 great-grandchildren: Beason Huffman, Angelique (Josh) Wright, Kristina (Dominic) Smith, Philip Hoeffner, Robert Freeman, Kyle Freeman, Cameron Ross, Alexis Mallory, Ryan Mallory, Ella Freeman, Eli Freeman, Emma Freeman, Seth Robinson, Karah Robinson, Madison Freeman and Morgan Freeman; 3 great-great grandchildren: Avery, Kaden and Payton Smith and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her loving daughter, Mary Lou Freeman-Finch, her parents and three brothers, Earl, Jack and Eugene Crawford.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.