Driscoll, Shirley Jean

Shirley Driscoll lived near Ward in the Mattoon Highlands, with her husband, James Driscoll, a retired IBM employee. Shirley was a homemaker. They had two children, Sherry Kasman & James Driscoll now adults.
According to newspaper accounts, the husband & wife had been drinking heavily for two days prior to Shirley’s death. There were prior incidents of domestic violence.
Authorities were called about 5:40 am on September 24 by a man on his way to work who saw smoke rising from a fire in Mattoon Highlands. It took firefighters about an hour to find the blaze which burned the Driscoll’s 1984 Subaru and about 1,000 square feet of land around it.
Upon extinguishing the fire, a body was found in the car, burned beyond recognition. The remains were later identified as Shirley Driscoll.
Sheriff’s detective Bob Meals reported the car had been doused with gasoline and set on fire. Subaru factory experts who examined the car said there was no malfunction that could have caused the fire.
Dr. John Meyer, Boulder County Coroner, said Shirley was alive when the fire started but was unable to leave the burning car because she was incapacitated. She died from smoke inhalation and burns.