Shirley "Pearl" Dail

            Shirley T. Dail known to many as “Pearl” passed away Monday July, 25 2022 at home surrounded by her family.

            Shirley was born August 10, 1935 in Easton, MD to the late Thomas E. Townsend and Leila B. Townsend. She grew up in the surrounding areas of Sharptown, MD.

            After graduating from Cambridge High, Shirley married the love of her life, Jack L. Dail in February 20 1954 in Salisbury, MD before moving to US Naval Station in Brunswick, ME. Later residing in Cambridge, MD where they raised their four kids, and she started her 30-year career at Western Publishing Company. She then went to work for Pleasant Day Medical Adult Day Care for 15 years before retiring as a private caregiver from Comfort Keepers. Shirley was more than just a caregiver as she always went above and beyond to share her warm affection and home-cooked meals. Her love and dedication to her clients was acknowledged when she was named “Caregiver of the Year.”

            In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her 7 siblings, and daughter-in-law Wendy Dail. She is survived by her beloved husband of 68 years Jack L. Dail; her children Jack L. Dail Jr, Jill L. Dail, Chuck E. Dail Sr., Jeff S. Dail and her special daughter-in-law Nancy Farrell. Her grandchildren William D. Jones, Charles E. Dail Jr. (Meghan), Amanda M. Hutton (David), Jordan C. Linthicum (Steven), Jaclyn L. Dail, Eden Q. Dail; Her great grandchildren William D. Jones Jr., Blake T. Jones, and Salem R. Hutton.

            Pearl: a person or thing of great rarity and worth. 

That’s exactly what she was, a priceless love that couldn’t be measured. An ear that never got tired of listening. Shoulders that were never too weak to take on everyone else’s burdens. Two hands that would pick you up off the ground and then make you the best chicken and dumplings you’ve ever had. Two feet that never stopped trying to take care of every life that crossed her path. And a heart so big that she loved everyone as if they were her own. The amount of care she placed in everything that she did was shown day in and day out. She was born to be your go-to person, your place of safety when you weren’t sure about anything else.

She set the highest standard for every position she held in life and believed that life was meant to be enjoyed not just lived; she worked tirelessly to not only provide for her family, but to buy that fancy new couch or fresh set of curtains, and to take you out to lunch just to be able to snatch the bill away and say it was her treat. She found the most pride in making her home the most inviting space for all of her loved ones to gather whenever they needed a place to come or just to swing by for a beer. Friday nights were spent gathered around the table in hopes of hearing more about how you become the woman you were or how you fell in love at 16 and never looked back. The only comfort we can find at a time like this is that we will all have the best guardian angel watching over us. Until we meet again, we will tell your story. 

A graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2022 beginning 1:00 p.m. at Old Trinity Church Cemetery. Officiating will be Pastor Steve Bloodsworth. Interment will follow.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations in memory of Pearl should be made to Pleasant Day Medical Adult Day Care Center, 2474 Cambridge Beltway, Cambridge Maryland 21613.

Arrangements entrusted  to Newcomb and Collins Funeral Home, P.A., Cambridge.