St. George, UT – On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, Shirley Nelson Baptist, loving and devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away suddenly at age 75. Shirley was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 4, 1947, a firecracker baby to Meredith and Marjorie (Breinholt) Nelson, the fourth of eight children. She grew up and lived in Salt Lake City before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, California in 1982. She married the love of her life, Donald Victor Baptist, on February 14, 1989, in San Jose, California. Together they moved to St. George, Utah in 2001.

Shirley excelled in all of her endeavors and always looked for the next best opportunity. She started out working as a keypunch operator and insurance adjuster. On a leap of faith and a career opportunity, she bravely moved herself and her two children to California. Shirley earned her associate degree in business from West Valley Junior College in Saratoga, California. She put that knowledge to work when she opened Scrap Apple Quilts in St. George, Utah in 2005, turning her hobby into a business and creating a quilter's dream destination. She produced her own quilt patterns, taught classes, and enjoyed working with people to create beautiful works of art. She had a talent for remembering names and fostering a community.

Shirley lived a faith-filled life. She's a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various callings including Relief Society President, Relief Society Teacher, and Primary Teacher.

Shirley was extremely creative and enjoyed cooking, music, painting, crafting, and quilting - an artist in every sense of the word. She loved to be active and throughout her life enjoyed golfing, skiing, and traveling. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, planning reunions, going on trips, and hosting parties. She had a profoundly generous heart and would give you the "quilt" off her back.

Shirley is preceded in death by her husband, Don; her parents; her brothers: Stephen Nelson and David Nelson; her sister, Peggy Jenson; and her grandson, Jonathan Baptist.

Shirley is survived by her six children: Harley (Conny) Willesen, Sheri McGarvey, Dwayne (Ellen) Baptist, Jim (Joan) Baptist, Rick (Pam) Baptist, and Ron (Merlinda) Baptist; 13 grandchildren: Amy (Justin) DeBorba, Tyler Willesen, Jessica (Kaden) Clements, Paul Baptist, Peter Baptist, David Baptist, Michael (Audrey) Baptist, Mitch (Alex) Baptist, Morgan (Eric) Elmore, Tiffany (Michael) Bella, Jennifer Baptist, Amanda Baptist, and Nicholas Baptist; 6 great grandchildren; 4 sisters: Ruth Ann (Dan) Curtis, Julie Abbott, Kathy (Dennis) Dea, Margie (Dennis) Bright; sister-in-law, Jolayne Nelson (Bob) Harrington; and brother-in-law, Paul Jenson.

Funeral Services will be Friday, March 31, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. in the Mulberry Chapel, 3381 Mulberry Drive, St. George, UT. Visitations will be Thursday, March 30 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd. and Friday, prior to services, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah.

Shirley Baptist Funeral Service Program

Services will be livestreamed at the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/91525095296?pwd=N3JXTmEvQXBDdGFqWjVmY2pzRXdVZz09