Shirley M. (Straughn) Tobin, age 97, a proud, former First Lady of the City of Quincy, passed away peacefully, Thursday, January 15, 2026 in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Shirley was born in Boston, to the late Norman M. and Anna M. (Higgins) Straughn. She was a graduate of Jamaica Plain High School, Class of 1946, and had lived in Quincy for seventy-nine years.

Married on September 5, 1955 in Saint John the Baptist Church, she was the beloved wife for seventy years of Arthur H. Tobin, Clerk-Magistrate of Quincy District Court, and former Mayor of Quincy, who passed on January 16.

A woman of deep faith, Shirley was a longtime parishioner of Saint John the Baptist Church in Quincy and she guided her daily life and relationships with her faith. She devoted her life to her family, friendships, and her community.

She was an avid reader. She loved her books because she loved words. She loved poetry and could recite poems she remembered from her school days.

Her husband, Arthur, was always proud of her, but never more so than when she recited poems by memory. She loved playing Wordle and Connections and enjoyed tackling the NYT crosswords.

Shirley loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. She sang in church choirs since she was young and joined the Hough’s Neck Congregational Church choir when she moved to Quincy after graduating from high school. It is there that she made her lifelong friendships with her group, the “Bonnie Lassies”.

If Shirley was not reading a book, she was singing, the home was always filled with music. She was always playing records from her favorite artists or singing as she went busily about her day.

Shirley found joy and beauty in simple things. A stroll or a ride in the car, she would remark in awe at the color of the sky and the shape of the clouds. If she had a meal or a treat she would say “that was the best I ever had.” Shirley has passed her many gifts down to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, who she cherished and adored.

Devoted mother of Arthur Stephen Tobin, Esq., former State Representative of Quincy, Mark H. Tobin, Assistant Clerk, Norfolk Juvenile Court, Retired of Quincy, Kelly-Ann Tobin Greenwood and her husband Donald, Lieutenant, Quincy Police Dept., Retired and Retired Colonel Special Forces, U.S. Army of Scituate, Tracey E. Phelan and her husband The Honorable William J. Phelan, former Mayor of the City of Quincy of Quincy, Brian J. Tobin, Lieutenant Quincy Police Dept., Retired and his wife Lynn of Quincy, Bruce J. Tobin, Sergeant, MA State Police, Retired and his wife Christine of Braintree, and the late Matthew David Tobin.

Loving grandmother of twenty and great grandmother of twenty-four.

The last of nine siblings, she was predeceased by Norman Straughn, Anna Malloy, Robert, Howard, Richard, Ralph, Paul, and Harold Straughn. Shirley is also survived by many much-loved in-laws, nieces, nephews, and their families.

Visiting Hours will be held in Saint John the Baptist Church, 44 School Street, Quincy, on Thursday, January 22, from 3 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. A Funeral Mass for Shirley and Arthur will be celebrated in Saint John the Baptist Church on Friday, January 23, at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Mount Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy.

The family kindly requests that flowers be omitted. In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley’s memory may be made to Saint John the Baptist Church, c/o 556 Washington Street, Quincy, MA 02169.