This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The cafeteria worker blamed by the Salt Lake City School District for fallout after 17 students' school lunches were thrown away at Uintah Elementary School two years ago has died at age 63.
Shirley Canham, called "Miss Shirley" by the children at school, said she was "sickened" when she tossed out the lunches of students with negative account balances and gave the children milk and fruit instead, but she said her supervisor, Peggy Bjornn, was watching to see her follow through on the district's policy.
Canham received death threats for her role in the story, which gained national attention.
After the incident, Canham and Bjornn were placed on administrative leave. Bjornn's contract was not renewed for the following school year, and Canham declined an offer to return to the school.
Canham died on May 2, according to an online obituary. In a comment, her sister Penny Berry said Canham "fought for some time and then went peacefully." She thanked the McKay Dee Hospital hospice nursing staff for giving her sister "such dignity with her passing."
A neighbor who commented called Canham and her daughter "the sweetest people we have ever met."
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