Shirley Joyce Sands

Shirley Joyce Sands of Hermiston was born January 11, 1935 in Lostine, Oregon the daughter of Melvin and Alice (Henderson) Smith. She passed away in Hermiston on June 15, 2025 at the age of 90.

Shirley grew up in Irrigon, Oregon where she attended school and graduated from high school in the early 1950's. Shirley married Ewald Ritzer and from this union five children were born. The couple later divorced.

Shirley moved to Hermiston in 1966 where she has resided for the past fifty-nine years. She worked for the Hermiston post office as a clerk for twenty years before retiring. She then worked for Walmart as a greeter for eighteen years. 

She enjoyed gardening, growing flowers and going to yard sales and thrift shops. She loved decorating for Christmas and dressing up whenever the opportunity arose. She also enjoyed going to her grandchildren’s sporting events.

She is survived by a son, Robert Ritzer; daughters, Mary Beach and Barbara McLean; son, Michael Ritzer; 19 grandchildren and many great grandchildren and several great great grandchildren; many extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by a daughter Betty Shatto; her parents; sisters, Sharon and Sharlene; and a granddaughter, Stephanie.

A Graveside service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday June 22, 2025 at the Hermiston Cemetery.

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