Chances are that if you ever shopped in our brick and mortar store in Los Angeles and met one of our founders, Shirley Leutjen, you still remember her smile.  Shirley made her transition in March 2009. We dedicate this page to our memories of her warm spirit, her easy way with people, and her open heart. 
We invite you to share your memories on our Guestbook pages.


Shirley Leutjen, 1940-2009

Shirley Ann Leutjen passed away peacefully on Tuesday March 24, 2009 at 2:40 p.m.  Shirley was exactly 68 years and 3 months old. 

Shirley was born in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, on December 24, 1940, just ten minutes before midnight.  She was a gift from the very start.  She was the only child of Homer and Kathleen Hunt.  She married Robert Allen Leutjen, in May 1960, and they moved to Long Beach, California where he was stationed in the Navy.  Daughter Cheryl was born thirteen months later at Long Beach Community Hospital.  Shirley and family moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1964, and daughter Lisa Leigh, was born there on October 3.  Shirley had always dreamed of moving back out to California one day, especially during those long, freezing cold winters, but she had wanted her children to grow up near her parents, their beloved grandparents. 

That lesson was not lost on Cheryl.  She and her husband David had moved to Los Angeles in 1990.  In 2002, they helped Shirley and her mother, Kathleen, move out to Southern California to be near their grandchildren, Cameron and Chloe.  Shirley was a champion grandmother who was a staple figure at her grandchildren's dance recitals, swim lessons, school field trips, parent-teacher conferences and school performances.  Shirley loved Cameron and Chloë dearly, and she would do anything for them.  She was their best playmate.  The three of them would make up games and no one else ever knew the rules.

She was also a tireless friend and companion, who would give of herself in any way possible to help others.   She and her mother, Kathleen Hunt, became members of the Women’s Twentieth Century Club of Eagle Rock immediately after moving to California.  Shirley loved helping out at The Blissful Soul.  She spent countless hours helping to grow the business, and assisting customers who quickly became friends who would often stop by just to see Shirley. 

Cheryl says, "Our time working together at our store, The Blissful Soul, is one of the absolute highlights of my life, and I know it was for her, too. She was so great with customers, many of whom would come in just to visit with her.  Shirley loved nothing better than coffee and conversation with a friend.  I am grateful that The Blissful Soul gave so many more people the opportunity to get to know her." 

Shirley worked with developmentally disabled adults, helping them lead successful and productive lives.  She was a member of the Crescenta Scarlet Slippers of the Red Hat Society, the Women’s Twentieth Century Club in Eagle Rock, and the Unity of the Valley church. 

Shirley was spontaneous, and she taught us all a lot about living in the moment.  You could call her to say, “do you want to join us for dinner, we're leaving in five minutes?” and she would say, “I’m not terribly hungry, and I’m not dressed….I’ll meet you there in 15 minutes.” 

Shirley was known for her free spirit, her candor, and her absolute determination to live life her own way.  She survived breast cancer in 1992, and she was convinced to the very end that, with a strong positive outlook, she would be healed again.  Unfortunately, even her indomitable will could not overcome lung cancer.  She leaves behind her daughters, Cheryl Leutjen of Los Angeles and Lisa Leutjen of Austin, Texas; her grandchildren, Cameron and Chloë Meyer, and countless friends and admirers. We know she is still with us, blessing and guiding us with her loving spirit.