Shirley Chiles

Shirley Sharon (Shook) Chiles was born May 4, 1947, in Newcastle Wyoming to Harrison Shook and Ariel (Warner) Shook. Weighing around 3 pounds at birth, she always faced life with fierce tenacity.

Shirley died April 21, 2026 at Spearfish Canyon Healthcare in Spearfish, South Dakota.

Shirley was raised in Newcastle, alongside her brothers, Kenneth (Buz), Dennis, and her sister, Ruth. September 25, 1966, she married the love of her life, Ralph E. Chiles. They married in a small ceremony at the Methodist Church in Newcastle. On June 16, 1967, Shirley gave birth to Brenda Kay in Newcastle. When Brenda was almost a year old, they decided to leave Newcastle. They planned to stay in Moorcroft only a couple weeks, before moving to Gillette. However, life had other plans and April Fools Day 1968, they arrived in Moorcroft and lived there the rest of their lives. April 7, 1970, their toe headed Connie Jo was born, followed by their favorite son, Robert Edwin (Bob) August 23, 1974. Despite Moorcroft being a second thought when originally moving there, it ended up being the perfect place to raise their family.

Shirley’s primary occupation was homemaker. She always loved to make home cooked meals and baked goods for friends and family. Shirley also worked cooking in cafés.

In 1992, Shirley took a break from work and took on the task of helping raise her 2 oldest granddaughters, Brittany and Stephanie. Brenda had become a single mom, Ralph and Shirley were there to help her succeed. You would often spot Shirley, girls in tow, having a caramel roll and hot tea at the Yellow Rose or Donna’s Diner in Moorcroft. The girls were always by her side, visiting her friends or next to her in the kitchen. Brittany and Stephanie’s bond with their Grandma and Papa was extremely special!

When Brittany and Stephanie got older, Shirley decided to reenter the workforce. She began working at K-Mart’s K Café. She took great pride in cooking breakfast and lunch for her customers. After a couple years, she went to work for Wal-Mart. Shirley was a popular cashier at Wal-Mart for over 10 years.

Shirley had many hobbies. She was talented in sewing, crocheting, baking, cooking, creating bridal veils and more. She had a great love for listening to music, however, if you asked her, the only instrument she could play was a radio.

Shirley will always be remembered for caring for others and making a friend out of everyone.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister Ruth Coy and best friend Diane Phoenix.

Shirley is survived by her children, Brenda Schooler (Ron Clubb), Connie Chiles, and Bob Chiles (Barb), grandchildren Brittany Hoang, Stephanie Graf (Justin), Benjamin Steffens (Ashley Hatch), Taya Steffens (Izayh Cottrell), Lane Steffens (Tori), Brailey Chiles, Bristol Chiles, and Baylon Chiles, great grandchildren Averee Ratkovec, Leighton Ratkovec, Briella Hoang, Bryson Hoang, Brooks Hoang, Kyson Steffens, Elias Steffens, Sawyer Cottrell, River Graf, and Sky Graf, brothers Buz (Judy) Shook, Dennis Shook and many family members and friends.

Services will be held at Moorcroft Community Center in Moorcroft, Wyoming on May 2, 2026 at 11:00 am. Burial will be after the services at Greenwood Cemetery in Newcastle Wyoming. Shirley’s niece, Pastor Shayla Graham will be officiating.