Shirley Ann Slayton

Shirley Ann Slayton, 89, of Clearwater, Florida passed away on April 13, 2026. Her family and friends revered Shirley as a pillar of strength, optimism, and positivity.

Shirley was born in Auburn, New York, on June 18, 1936. She was the daughter of William E. Powers and Victoria M. Fronczek and big sister to 17 siblings whom she adored. Her happiest moments were at family celebrations, playing cards, pulling the handle of a slot machine at any casino, traveling around the U.S. and abroad, listening to country music, dancing, and laughing with her family, and friends.

As a girl she was sporty. She played basketball, softball, field hockey, and volleyball. She attended Moravia Central School in Moravia, New York. She cheered throughout high school and was captain of her Junior Varsity cheerleading team. She held multiple leadership positions including Treasurer of her 1954 senior class and had fond memories of their senior trip to Washington D.C.

She graduated and was a businesswoman through and through. She also knew how to balance her career and family life. She married her first husband, Robert “Shy” Shields, in 1955 and they ran multiple businesses together: Fillmore Glen Concession (Moravia, NY), Rainbow Inn (Locke, NY), Shy’s Golden Horseshoe (King Ferry, NY).

She started a new chapter when she moved to Clearwater, FL with Raymond Slayton in the winter of 1977. She married Raymond in 1985. She enjoyed co-owning the This & That Country Shop with her sister Winnie (New Port Richey, FL). She also owned and operated Shirley’s Belcher Plaza Coffee Shop (Clearwater, FL) for over a decade and retired after she sold the restaurant in 1998. To her customers she was generous, friendly, and known for her delicious scratch cooking and baking.

She had a work hard, play hard attitude. In her spare time, she enjoyed bowling with her sisters and friends. She was a fun party host and liked to host large family get-togethers. She was a sports fan and enjoyed cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tampa Bay Rays. She stopped for garage sales and was always in search of an enjoyable book.

In her golden years, she enjoyed the beach with husband Raymond where they were caretakers of their friend Lyle’s hotel, The Florentine, Indian Shores, FL, until he sold it in 2014. They enjoyed celebrating sunsets, shelling and meeting new people. Their favorite place to go was the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Shirley could spend hours playing the “slots” and was delighted by the shared excitement of the Ching, Ching, Ching from a winning machine. She also enjoyed quiet days at her condominium reading an entertaining book and watching the ducks on the lake.

Shirley is survived by her children: Douglas Shields (Lynda), Kevin Shields (Cathy), Kim Shields (Ann), Sheryl Stanley (Mark); her stepchildren Judith Tamburrino (Dan), Robert Slayton; fourteen grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; four godchildren and a large and loving extended family. Her surviving siblings are Robert Powers (Joanne), Michael Powers (Maria), Susan Pusloskie (John), Linda Lee, Paul Powers (Pamela), George Powers (Joy), Ronald Powers (Denise). She is also survived by sister-in-law, Jean Powers, and brother-in-law, Carl Mahon.

Shirley was predeceased by her adoring husband Raymond in 2024; stepson Michael Scott Slayton; daughter-in-law Marlene Randolph; goddaughter Terry Green. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by eleven siblings and five of their spouses: William Powers, Mary Powers, Jack Powers, Margaret Powers, William “Bill” Powers (Patricia), Winifred Frost (James), Thomas Powers (Betty), Donald “Chief” Powers, Patricia Mahon, Allen Charles Powers (Claudia), and brother-in-law Ronald Lee.

On Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 10 a.m., Shirley will be laid to rest alongside her husband Raymond at the Bay Pines National Cemetery. Funeral services will be held at the Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg, FL.: 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard North; St. Petersburg, FL 33708. Please meet us in your vehicle at the entrance by 9:45 a.m. for the procession to the committal shelter.

https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/baypines.asp

Shirley’s Celebration of Life will be held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. We will celebrate her long, beautiful life and share our memories on her 90th birthday at her favorite place.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Fillmore Glen State Park in Shirley’s honor. If you have never been, it is a beautiful place that Shirley held dear. https://www.friendsoffillmoreglen.org/donate