Fortin, a longtime resident of Lakeside and the Guadalajara area, passed away July 10 at Guadalajara’s del Carmen Hospital from pneumonia and heart failure.

Shirley Fortin, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, later graduated from Little Flower High School in Royal Oak, Michigan.

She came to Mexico in 1991 and lived for a year in Guadalajara’s Las Fuentes neighborhood before heading to Lakeside.

After her love for her companion, Les Spellman, who died six years ago, Fortin’s great life-long passion was the game of bridge. She and Spellman organized the American Legion Bridge Group together, and she was also instrumental in organizing two fundraising fashion shows at the Legion.

Fortin leaves behind three children, six grandchildren and one great grandchild: son Tim Kennedy and family in Michigan, son Shawn Kennedy and famiy in Phoenix, Arizona and daughter Leah Decker and family in Aspen, Colorado. She is also survived by her two brothers, Commander Kenneth Warden and Lawrence Warden, and her brother-in-law Mario Galli.

She will be sorely missed by her friends at Lakeside and in Guadalajara.

There will be a memorial service at the Legion Post Seven on Saturday, August 2 at 11 a.m. Refreshments will be served following the service and lunch will be available for those wishing to stay and share their memories of Shirley.