Shirley White Pearl

Survived by daughter Linda, son in law Nick Brill, grandson Daniel Brill (Tina Bellefeuille) and great granddaughter Callie Brill. Preceded in death by parents Cynthia White and George White, brother George White Jr. and long time partner Fred Reese. 

Born Shirley Ann White in Marshalltown Iowa, she attended grade and high school in Marshalltown and got her undergraduate education at Coe College and the University of Iowa studying journalism and psychology.  She received her PhD in Educational Psychology there and worked in the educational field all her life. She worked in the Children’s Unit of the Mental Health Institute in Independence, Iowa, later moving to Waterloo, Iowa working at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. 

Shirley moved to St Paul Minnesota in 1969 with her former husband Harold Pearl, to work for the St Paul Public Schools where she started and managed the Behavioral Learning Center, an innovative program for troubled children with behavior problems who were not able to attend regular public schools. She authored an instruction manual “Managing Disruptive Behavior in the Elementary School” with her co-author, Don Challman. She finished her 20 years with the St Paul Public Schools as principal at Phalen Lake Elementary School and retired in 1989.  

She lived in the Crocus Hill neighborhood in St Paul for over 40 years and loved her Grand Avenue neighborhood calling it “Grandville”.  After retiring, she travelled the world extensively, visiting many exotic destinations with her partner of 20 years, Fred Reese. She also travelled with her daughter, a tennis fan, to Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open. She wrote 2 books, “The Marginal Woman-Breaking Boundaries in a Pre-Feminist World” about her life growing up and “The Occasional Man” about her travels with Fred. She also served on the Board of Directors for part of that time with Hamline University and Penumbra Theatre. Upon becoming the executor of her Aunt’s estate, she established scholarships for St. Thomas College and Hamline University in St Paul, while also administering already established scholarships at her Uncle’s alma mater, Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri. 

She was an extrovert who enjoyed good friends and good times and was dancing with our family friend “Aunt” Phyllis Goff at the Orpheum Theatre one week before her death. She also loved and valued her time with another close family friend, Renee Paradez Winters who has been a godsend to Linda and Shirley these last few years. 

Also in lieu of flowers memorials can be sent to 3 of Mom's favorite non profits:

Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services (MAARS)-1360 University Ave #347-St Paul MN 55104 

Guild Mental Health Services-122 S Wabasha St #400, St. Paul 55107 

Penumbra Theatre-270 Kent St, Saint Paul, MN 55102  

Services for Shirley will be held at Willwerscheid Funeral Home, 1167 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55105 on Monday November 4 from 4-8PM.