Shirley Mae Jacobson, 85 of Port Republic, MD passed away on May 29, 2010 at Asbury~Solomons Retirement Community, Solomons, MD. She was born on December 19, 1924 in Valley City, North Dakota to the late Randolph Hustad and Valeda Hood Hustad.

She was a member of the "greatest generation" and her life exemplified many of those commitments which that generation is admired for today. She grew up in Montana and developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors and wildlife. Her father, Randolph instilled a deep sense of appreciation for protecting the environment and all the living creatures on this earth.

After living through the Great Depression and the attack on Pearl Harbor she traveled to Los Angeles, California and attended Woodbury College where she graduated Cum Laude with an Associates Degree in business management in 1944. Once graduating from college, her adult life began and continued with energy, commitment, world travel and dedication to community, family and lovingly devotion to her husband, Kenneth A. Jacobson. Her first career was in Los Angeles working as an executive assistant under Louis B. Mayer at the MGM studios. She was exposed to many of the movies and stars of that era.

Ken and Shirley met in Los Angeles, was love at first sight, and were married on September 27, 1945 in Los Angeles, California. with the ending of World War Two. The couple relocated to Bozeman, Montana, where Shirley was the executive assistant for the Dean of Engineering at Montana State University. She supported her husband financially through college and as he always said, "I'd never have made it without her." With Shirley's dedicated support, he graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering, commissioned into the United States Air Force and traveled to Yokohama Japan the day after receiving his diploma. Shirley a newly "commissioned" officer's wife would travel to Japan at a later date. She left Seattle, Washington on a small freighter which traveled the Bering Sea along the coast of Alaska to Japan. She never complained.

Shirley and Ken lived in Japan, loved the country, people and as with every place they lived, made life long friends. With the ending of the Korean War. Shirley and Ken traveled to duty stations in Kansas, Texas, Ohio and Wiesbaden Germany. Along the way, two sons were born Randy and Allan and many pets were acquired. On the various bases, Shirley served as president of many of the wives clubs and had a skill in coordinating the needs of families with the realities of a constantly changing military life.

After enduring a great depression, two wars and overseas deployment, Shirley and Ken relocated to Virginia where Ken was assigned to the Pentagon during the Vietnam War. During this period, the decision was made to move to Calvert County, Maryland to achieve a lifetime dream of living on the Chesapeake Bay.

From 1969 until her death, Shirley was not only a resident of Calvert County but an active participant in the development of the county. Much of what Calvert County is today, Shirley, as an involved citizen, helped create. Shirley was involved in "Keep Calvert Country" and "Save the Bay". The beauty of Calvert County today was created by foresight in zoning and environmental concerns and by no small measure was a credit to Shirley and the citizens of her era. Shirley was a member of The League of Women Voters, President of the Andrews Air Force Base Wives Club and very active in the local politics of Calvert County. Her sons remember her attending a PTA meeting and being the only parent there!

During her years in Calvert County, she also worked in the Insurance Business and became a licensed Realtor. After her retirement, she continued to be active in the development of Calvert County. Shirley unselfishly supported and cared for her husband of 52 years during his lengthy illness. She never wavered in her devotion to Ken, and her sons will always admire the example which she set.

Shirley always offered her help in protecting all living creatures, a trait which she passed on to both sons, both of whom have devoted there lives to the improvement of animals and humans. Her most enjoyable recent memories were her days spent as a volunteer at the Chesapeake Biologic Laboratory, Solomons Island. In the end, we see Shirley's life as very unique, well traveled and accomplished. The greatest memories and admiration will always be her devotion her husband Ken Jacobson, whom she is very happy to rejoin. And the examples she set for her two sons of accomplishment and dedication to the earth's environment and living creatures. We love you mom and will miss you.

Shirley was preceded in death by her beloved husband Kenneth Albert Jacobson, LTC, USAF Retired who passed away on February 24, 1998. She is survived by her two devoted sons Dr. Randy K. Jacobson of Orlando, FL and Allan C. Jacobson of Dillwyn, VA. And a grandchild.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home.