Shirley M. Kesson

Newport, RI - Shirley M. Kesson, 70, of 125 Van Zandt Avenue, Newport, died Thursday, April 22, 2004 at Miriam Hospital Providence, RI.She was the wife of William Kesson. Born in Grasmere, NH on May 4, 1933, she was raised, after the death of her parents, by Earl H. of Portsmouth, RI and the late Mary S. Jameson.Mrs. Kesson spent her childhood in Henniker, NH. In 1954, she moved with the Jamesons to Newport. She worked as a nurse for several years before meeting her husband Bill, who worked for the Short Line Bus Company, she was a regular passenger on his route. After raising her children, she returned to nursing. She later obtained her real estate license, working first at the Gallery of Homes, and then for 26 years as the property manager for the Irish Partnership. Besides her husband of 45 years she is survived by two sons Donald J. Kesson of Warwick, RI, and William Kesson of Standish, ME, two daughters Mary F. Kesson of Providence, RI, and Elizabeth A. Geisendaffer of Newport, RI, and five grandchildren.A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2004, at 11:00AM in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. Burial will be private. Donations in her memory may be made to the Newport Fire Department Rescue Wagon Fund, 21 W. Marlborough Street, Newport, RI 02840 or to the Robert Potter League For Animals, PO Box 412, Newport, RI 02840.