Shirley Patton

Shirley Patton’s personal history in the State of Jefferson began in 1958 when she joined the acting company of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She appreciated her 30 years in the company. She also performed with many of the smaller area theatres and is currently with Camelot. A founding member of the Extended Circle in 1990, Shirley joined a dedicated group of entertainers who present variety shows every Tuesday morning in care facilities and retirement centers throughout the Rogue Valley.

Invited to join the “As It Was” team, Shirley was delighted. “For a supporter of the Southern Oregon Historical Society and JPR, this is a great assignment,” she says. “Reading the carefully researched stories the writer’s deliver is a joy. Each month when the scripts come in, it’s like opening a treasure box.”

A graduate of Stanford University with a passion for peace and justice, Shirley has three children and seven grandchildren.