Shirley Myers

A Celebration of his Life will be held Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 11:00 AM at First Baptist Church of Christ, 511 High Place, Macon, GA 31201, followed by a visitation. Rev. Julie Long will officiate. Burial will be private for family only in Riverside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Shirley's memory may be made to First Baptist Church of Christ.

Shirley was born in Leesburg, Virginia the son of the late Alma Schumate Myers and George Shirley Myers and was preceded in death by a grandson, Kohlton Lanier Myers and a brother, John Myers. He was retired from Livestock Breeder Journal and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Christ.

Shirley is survived by his wife of 49 years, Kathy Lanier Myers of Macon; children, Stephanie Lanier of Forsyth, GA and a son, John Patrick Myers (Tiffany) of Wake Forest, NC; grandchildren, Keegan George (Katie), Katie Beth George, John Cameron Myers, and Carson Myers; siblings, Louie Myers of Leesburg, VA; several nieces and nephews.

Shirley grew up on Evergreen Mills, the family farm in Leesburg, VA. He graduated from Loudoun County High School in 1956 where he played basketball. He was active in 4H where he won many awards in showing cattle. Loudoun County honored him by creating a 3'x4' display of Shirley and his 4H steer in the local grocery store. He attempted tap dancing until one of his shoes flew across the room.

Shirley attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI), now known as Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, VA. He paid for his tuition by working in the college cafeteria. He continued showing cattle in college and at the VPI Little International Livestock Show, Myers won the entire competition as a freshman. He was a member of the Cadet Corps where once he made a mistake interpreting the bugle call dress code. His platoon was the only one on the field dressed in raincoats. Shirley played clarinet in the VPI regimental band, "The Highty Tighties" and that prestigious band played for the inauguration of US President, Dwight Eisenhower. In that performance, they were told to play "Hail to the Chief" and segue into "Dixie". Shirley said, seeing Eisenhower with his hand over his heart was the most powerful sights he had witnessed.

During his senior year in college, he suffered a cerebral aneurysm out of state with the VPI Livestock Judging team. After several weeks hospitalization, he returned by train to Blacksburg, VA to finish his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry in 1959.

He was hired for his dream job the next year as a Field Representative and Freelance Ring Man after writing to the owner of Livestock Breeder Journal in Macon, telling him "You can quit looking, 'cause I'm the man for the job". While paying his mortgage at Home Federal Savings and Loan Association, he met Kathy, who was not interested in dating an older man. He was not phased, as he tried in August, at Thanksgiving, and at Christmas. The couple had their first date... to a cattle sale... in January of '74 and the rest is history. His Virginia friends were pleased he found himself a "Georgia Peach". This August they would have celebrated 50 years of marriage.

Shirley sold advertising for Livestock Breeder Journal (LBJ) but his favorite part of the job was working cattle sales, which he attended when a one page ad was sold. He loved the people and enjoyed working with his fellow ring men; they had a fraternity of sorts... one each from different corners of the state who wore cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and chewed tobacco. Shirley said, "The best part of working as a ring man is the atmosphere. It's one of my responsibilities to generate enthusiasm". One of his friends, "Hoss", used to rattle the bars in the auction ring to create that excitement. Baseball pitcher, Nolan Ryan, had cattle and Shirley bought baseballs for Ryan to sign.. he then gave them away to youngsters.

Shirley worked for over 50 years even after having quintuple heart bypass surgery in 1994. He became diligently dedicated for the remainder of his life to eat a heart healthy diet and exercise, even if that meant eating a tuna sandwich every day for lunch. He retired from Livestock Breeder Journal but continued working cattle sales independently until his health declined. He assisted in editing the History of Georgia's Cattle Industry and he was known as "the walking encyclopedia of the cattle industry in Georgia". Myers has been recognized as one of the Southeast's most respected ring men and has mentored a lot of young people that look up to him, according to David Gazda, who considered him a mentor. "Breeders wanted him at every sale for his knowledge and professionalism; they genuinely felt they could not have a sale without him at ringside. Being the good caring person he is, he became like family to breeders in the Southeast".

For the last 17 years Myers has provided a vacation for the entire family starting at Emerald Isle, NC and moving to Lake Keowee, SC. This kept the bond between the cousins strong as they grew.

At his beloved First Baptist Church of Christ, Shirley was a deacon, an usher, a greeter, and passed the collection plate every Sunday. Members loved seeing Shirley walk down the center aisle carrying the offerings to the altar. He remembered everyone's birthday and clipped countless newspaper articles for friends and family... also grocery store coupons. He is known for his impeccable memory and his enthusiasm of statistics... of anything... football scores, Survivor, number of squirrels and armadillos captured. He enjoyed working crossword puzzles, playing Solitaire, and bombarding his grandchildren with newspaper articles about them and their friends.

He will be missed. His cardiologist said his heart was enlarged but Kathy always said he had the biggest heart.

Snow's Memorial Chapel, Bass Road, has charge of arrangements.