Shirley Ann (Kern) Roof

Shirley Ann (Kern) Roof, age 80, recently of Chapel Hill, NC, and formerly of Dillsburg, PA, died on Monday, December 30, 2024. Shirley was born on Sunday, July 16, 1944, in Lebanon City, PA to the late Ralph Edward Kern and Dorothy May (Shutter) Kern. Shirley was the widow of Reverend David Geary Roof, whom she married on March 23, 1963, and who died on November 18, 2016.

Shirley’s survivors include her three children: Kim Yunez and her husband, Farid, of Chapel Hill, NC, Deborah “Deb” Roof of Dillsburg, PA, David A. Roof and his wife, Conceicao “Conce”, who work and reside in Brazil; her three grandchildren: Victoria Yunez Behm, Sara Butler, Andrew Roof; her two great grandchildren: Kairo Behm, Vela Behm; and her two brothers: Edward Kern and Randall “Randy” Kern.

Shirley Ann Kern grew up in a world created by Pennsylvania Dutch farmers. By the time she was born in 1944, the Kern family had grown accustomed to the frugal post-World War II way of life. The Kerns of Lebanon County were not big spenders. They learned to make their dough from scratch and stretch their meat budget by slicing a cut of beef into cubes and cooking it with squares of rolled dough and potatoes. For people from outside the PA Dutch region, this is known as “pot pie” which is essentially a pot full of comfort food with protein, flavored by homemade beef broth, onions, carrots, salt and pepper. During the summer, Shirley’s family made homemade ice cream, but sometimes Shirley’s father would take everyone out to Twin Kiss for some soft ice cream. In the winter, Shirley and her mother would make sand tarts and share them with their church family at the Bunker Hill Church, and their extended family at the annual Kern Christmas party.

Shirley attended the multigrade Lincoln school house in Ono for 8 years, always under the tutelage of Mrs. Walmer. She was in a class of 8, but by September of 1958, the newly constructed high school was ready for occupancy, and the “Ono 8” started high school in a brand-new building that must have seemed enormous. Shirley attended Northern Lebanon from 1958 to 1962. She was an excellent math student, and throughout her life she was always good at taking inventory and knowing where everything was located. Later, when she was a bank teller, she would count the cash in her proofing drawer throughout the day and take pride at the end of the day when her drawer was balanced.

In the spring of 1963, Shirley Kern married David Roof who at the time, was serving in the capacity of student pastor at Zion E.C. Church in Myerstown. Together they served many churches in the Eastern Conference of the Evangelical Congregational Church: Lawn 1964 – 1967; St John’s 1967 – 1973 on the east side of Allentown; Trinity in Frackville 1973-1975; Grace in Ephrata 1975 - 1979, Seibert in Allentown 1979 - 1987, Wyndamere Heights in Lewisberry 1994 – 2000 and Faith in Chambers Hill 2000 - 2003. Throughout their shared ministry, Shirley was always there helping. In the 1960s, she was singing in the choir and establishing a library at St. John’s. In the 1970s she was making chrismons for the church Christmas tree. In the 1980s she was organizing trips for the Just Older Youth AKA the J.O.Y. group at Seibert. In the 1990s, she volunteered to help with mailings at the Church Center. Most of the time, she preferred to stay behind the scenes. Shirley was never eager to step up to a microphone, but she didn’t hesitate to pick up the telephone! She was a steadfast phone partner with many people, and even if she couldn’t empathize with someone's troubles, she would pray for them anyway. 

Shirley Roof met each of life’s challenges with prayer. We offer one example. One winter, when he was only 2½ years old, David Andrew was rushed to the hospital after a life-threatening lung collapse (pneumothorax). When Dr. Moyer, the pediatrician, checked on him in the hospital, he was unsure of whether David Andrew would make it. Knowing that their young son was on the brink, David Geary lifted these words to God, “Lord if you want him, he’s yours, but we’d like to have him back.” Shirley felt a bit uneasy with that prayer, and it took a tracheotomy into the windpipe, pressure valves into the chest and a mother’s desperate prayer to bring young David back home. Shirley continued to be hypervigilant about David’s health throughout his childhood.

Shirley’s aspirations can be summed up in a handwritten note that she left in her ledger:

“Hoping that I finish well. Praying that I was able to pass deep truths to my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren that were lived out as a part of my life. Often I fretted about things that didn’t matter but aside from that I pray that our home was a loving, joyful home for all who came thru our doors. I pray that I have demonstrated most of all the love of Jesus to my family, friends, and church family.”

In these few words she reveals the essence of who she is. In Shirley there is no enigma or pretension. There is only sincerity and guileless interest in the wellbeing of others. Shirley’s own interests were always bound up with the interests of those who were closest to her, and we found common purpose and security in this network of relationships. 

When Shirley’s children and grandchildren think of the notion of “home,” she is always there at the center. She has been the one to return to when coming home from a long journey. Now our hearts break as she sets off on a journey of her own. It is now time to release her to the great I AM, the Alpha and the Omega who will transform our lowly bodies to be like Christ’s glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21) and make all things new (Revelation 21).

All are welcome to join Shirley’s family at her gathering of family and friends on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with a celebration of life beginning at 11:30 a.m. all at Christ Community Church, 121 S. College Street (Route 501), Myerstown, PA 17067; with Rev. Dr. Tim Valentino and Rev. Dr. Timothy Seiger officiating. Shirley’s family invites everyone to join them for a reception and light refreshment immediately following the service. Burial will take place at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, PA on Monday, January 13, 2024 at 9:30 a.m., with guests arriving at 9:20 a.m. to be escorted to the site.

Contributions in celebration of Shirley’s life can be made to Evangelical Congregational Global Mission – Belem Construction Fund, https://eccenter.app.neoncrm.com/forms/globalministries2.

Shirley’s family has entrusted her care to Buhrig Funeral & Cremation in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421. View Shirley's memorial portrait, offer condolences and sympathy, share stories and memories, upload photographs and videos, light a candle and sign her official guest book by visiting Buhrig.com.