Shirley Ann Bihr

Shirley Ann Bihr, age 71, departed this life on Friday, April 19, 2024, in Harrison, Ohio.  Born the daughter of Edward and Loretta (Schuman) Bihr on January 1, 1953, in Hamilton, Ohio. Shirley grew up in Harrison, Ohio, and was a 1971 graduate of William Henry Harrison High School. She was the first in her family to attend college, becoming a 1975 graduate of Miami University proudly earning a degree in Education with Elementary and High School certifications in Spanish, Typing, and Social Studies.

She began her 40-year teaching career with St. John the Baptist Catholic School beginning the Fall of 1975 through the Fall/Winter of 2015. Her passion for learning was shared through her Social Studies, English, and Religious Education courses. It was her faith-filled spirit that encouraged her students to continue growing to become the people God called them to be.

Shirley had many hobbies that she enjoyed, especially at church serving as part of the music ministries, singing in choirs at New Jerusalem, the Good Shepherd Center, St. Monica St. George, and St. John the Baptist Parishes, and she was also a reader and Eucharistic Minister. Other hobbies included taking students on mission trips to Brazil, and singing outside of the sanctuary walls, including an opportunity to sing in the World Choir Games in 2012, playing guitar, going on outings to the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Off‑Broadway shows, Cincinnati Music Hall, and other weekend travel adventures.

She is survived by her sisters Thelma Furney, Donna Gaynor, and Pauline (Tom) Lehrter, nephews and nieces: Nick (Jenna) Furney, Rachel (Kyle) Hay, Philip Gaynor, Molly (Josh) Mason, Sarah (Jared) Leiker, Amanda (Adam) Rosselot, Tanya (Jake) Zengerling, Craig (Stacey) Lehrter, and Shirley’s best friend, Rev. George Kunkel.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Loretta Bihr, her brothers-in-law Mark Furney and Ron Gaynor, and her niece, Carrie Lehrter.

A visitation will be held for Shirley on Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Jackman Hensley Funeral Home, 215 East Broadway Street, Harrison, Ohio 45030. A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, April 26, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 10010 Carolina Trace Road, Harrison, Ohio, with Father Paul Ruwe presiding. A burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery located in Harrison, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest memorials be made, In Memory of Shirley, to St. John the Baptist Catholic School, 508 Park Avenue, Harrison, Ohio 45030 and/or to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Cincinnati Chapter, 644 Linn Street, Suite 1026, Cincinnati, Ohio 45203.