Shirley Steele Paddock, a courageously independent woman with a lively wit, determination, competitive spirit, and boundless love for family, died peacefully at her Pensacola home on May 8, 2014. Her beloved husband, RADM, USN (Ret.) Richard A. Paddock preceded her in death in 1997, a few months before their 50th wedding anniversary. She lived always with her own special verve and vitality. She was born in Auburn, NY to Chester William and Norma Burtless Steele (later Heckman) on May 30, 1927 - Memorial Day. The annual parades and school holidays on her birthday added a special flair to her childhood in the Finger Lakes region of NY. She graduated as valedictorian of Auburn's East High School in 1945. She attended Cornell and Barnard before graduating with a BA in English from George Washington University four children later. Auburn's gifts to her transcended parades and holidays. In Auburn she met and married "my Richard". Although they left Auburn together after their 1947 marriage, their family ties and lifelong friendships gave them a strong sense of place and history they passed on to their children. Our parents became a Navy team after Dad's call back to active duty in the Korean War. Despite the difficulties of the long separations of sea duty and many moves, Mom loved Navy life. She turned houses into homes from Newport to Norfolk to Mayport to Washington to San Diego to Honolulu. She made lifelong friends everywhere she lived and traveled. The Navy years created indelible memories. A close friend from Auburn recently reminded us that in Honolulu she was more nervous to host Julia Child for lunch than to entertain the young Prince Charles. Each city she lived in, including Pensacola for 32 retirement years, benefited from her support and voluntarism in the arts and education. In Pensacola she supported the Pensacola Symphony, Music at Christ Church, and the Music Study Club. She was a docent at the Pensacola Museum of Art for several years. She also enjoyed Panhandle Tiger Bay, bridge at Scenic Hills CC, her book club, and Ladies' League tennis. We see part of her in each of us. Her passion for reading and quest for knowledge continue in each generation. Her theatrical talent blossomed in a few of us. Her love of and talent for music are found in three generations. Her spirit of adventure and her love of competition in tennis, games, and puzzles live on. She leaves to cherish her memory her children: daughter Carolyn Knefely and husband Dr. George Knefely of Pensacola, FL; son Dr. Bradley Paddock and fiancée Amy Hall of Gloversville, NY; daughter Susan Stumpf and husband Capt. Robert Stumpf, USN (Ret.) of Pensacola, FL; son David Paddock and wife Susan Paddock of Virginia Beach, VA. Tutu will be so missed by her grandchildren: Mac Knefely and fiancée Kristin of Pensacola, Alison Knefely Sides and Rob of Knoxville, TN; Brandon Paddock of Seattle, WA; Mindy Paddock of Huntersville, NC; Natalie Stumpf Solotoff and Ari of Portland, ME; Carolyn Stumpf Wedel and Rock of Ponte Vedra, FL; Kimberly Stumpf Monteleone and Chris of Charlotte, NC; Carolyn Paddock Huang and Dwight of Mountain View, CA; and Christopher Paddock of Arlington, VA. Tutu's great grandchildren are Robby McKnight, Charlie Sides, Will Solotoff, Rhys Wedel, and Haley Steele Sides. No one gave her greater joy in her later years than her beloved Grands and Greats. Her dear sister Patricia Steele Wilson of Tubac, AZ; her loving sister-in-law Georgia Paddock Dudley and husband Dr. Clayton Dudley of Woodbury, CT; and her many nieces and nephews will also miss her. Our family will gather for a private memorial. Donations in our mother's memory may be made to The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra at 205 E. Zaragoza Street, Pensacola, FL 32502; Cornell Lab of Ornithology at 159 Sapsucker Woods, Ithaca, NY 14850 (http://www.birds.cornell.edu); or a charity of your choice. Although our dad died 17 years ago, we can still hear his voice reciting his version of the 23rd Psalm: "Shirley, goodness, and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life . . ." And she did - always and forever.