Shirley La Verne Kowalik of Lompoc died Sunday, March 21, 2010, at the age of 88.

Shirley was born February 17, 1922, in Newton Township, Illinois to Glenn and Chloral Harvey. She married Jeremi L. Kowalik in 1950; the two would live in various locations stateside and abroad before settling in Lompoc in 1959. Upon arrival she joined La Purisma Catholic Church, where she has been a long-time parishioner.

She served with the local area Boy Scouts of America for 45 years, being the first in Mission Council to earn scouting's third highest adult award, the Silver Fawn, as well as Del Rio District's highest award, Award of Merit and special award, The Earl Calvert Memorial Award. Her services led to her highest personnel gratification in seeing her sons and eldest grandson achieve Scouting's highest award of Eagle Scout.

Her grandchildren were the recipients of her great love and attention. She was very proud of them in their various endeavors and accomplishments, from Wilford's Eagle Scount, to her granddaughters, Carine, Siobhan and Daria successes in the visual and performing arts, down to her youngest grandchild, Trent, the youngest recipient of a Tony Award as the Best Actor in a Musical.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Jeremi L. Kowalik in 1990. She is survived by her sons Jeremi L. Kowalik Jr. of Santee, California and Michael K. Kowalik of Wantagh, New York, and five grandchildren, Wilford, Carine, Siobhan, Daria and Trent.

The visitation will be on Wednesday, March 24, from 5 to 8 pm with an evening vigil starting at 6:30 pm in the chapel of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary. Father Tom Cook will celebrate the mass of Christian burial on Thursday, March 25, at 10 am at La Purisima Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.