Gerald Harlan Shirley's Obituary
Gerald Harlan Shirley, age 81, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2015 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Gerald was born on April 15, 1933 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to his parents Encil Dean Shirley and Lois Bain Shirley. He was the first of five children. Gerald attended his general education at Coweta and Woodward Public Schools before his attendance at Arizona State University. After his schooling, he began his career in the United States Air Force as an Airborne Radio Operator. He served with the Air Force from 1953 to 1975, obtaining the rank of MSGT. After his service, he began working as a clerk for the United States Postal Service. Gerald retired from the Postal Service after twenty three years of diligent work. Gerald married the love of his life, Patricia Ann Shirley, on July 31, 1956 in Northampton, England. He was involved with the National Hot Rod Association and the American Postal Workers Union. Gerald enjoyed fixing cars, racing, tinkering with remote controlled planes, and flying real planes. He was a big-hearted, stubborn joker who loved above all his family. Gerald is preceded in death by his wife Patricia Ann Shirley, his mother Lois Bain, his father Encil Dean Shirley, his stepmother Rose Shirley, his brother Ray Dean Shirley, his parents-in-law John and Mary Taylor, his brother-in-law Roger Baxter, and his sisters-in-law Jean Lawson and Lynn Taylor. Gerald is survived by his son Rickey (Vicki) Shirley, his daughter Gail (David) Stroup, his daughter Donna Shirley, his sister Rosemary Totty, his brothers Charles Shirley and Leon Shirley, his grandchildren David (Chenoa) Stroup, Bradley Shirley, Tonie (Brian) King, Jessica (Lee) Dewey, his six great-grandchildren, his three brothers-in-law John (Elaine) Taylor, Andrew Palmer, and Jack Lawson, his sister-in-law Brenda Palmer, and numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma on Friday, January 16, 2015 at 3:00 pm.
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