Shirley Naylor

Thelma Shirley Naylor passed away on June 5, 2024 at the age of 97. She was born November 4, 1926 to Howard and Goldie Birdseye in Syracuse, New York, one of seven children. After high school graduation, she began working for Bell Telephone Company.

In the summer of 1946 she met the love of her life, John Naylor. The two married in September 1948. She continued working at the telephone company until she and John had their son Larry in January 1950. In 1954 their family grew with the birth of their daughter Cheryl.

In 1963 the family moved to Bethany when John was transferred with General Electric. Although it was hard leaving her sisters and brothers in Syracuse, Shirley embraced her new life in Oklahoma, even going on rattlesnake hunts with fellow New Yorkers and taking us horseback riding in Will Rogers Park.

Shirley was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a voracious reader and loved learning new things even later in life. She and John enjoyed traveling after John’s retirement in 1988. Golf and bowling also filled their days, and Shirley would also swim laps on occasion at the local YWCA.

She was an active member of the Crescent Society for many years, and a Red Hat lady.

Shirley was preceded in death by John, her loving husband of 63 years, her brothers Bob, Jim and Lloyd Birdseye and sisters Eileen Dominicos and Patricia Korkue. She is survived by her brother William Birdseye, son Larry Naylor of Ames, Iowa (Melissa Blacketer), daughter Cheryl Magrini of Oklahoma City (Steve), three grandchildren Brian Magrini of Oklahoma City, David Naylor of Berkeley, CA and Lauren Naylor of rural Saginaw, MN (Nick Giuliani) and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Shirley will be held Sunday, June 9, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Bill Merritt Funeral Service, 6201 Northwest 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK 73008. A celebration of life will occur Monday, June 10, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Bill Merritt Funeral Service with interment following at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery.