William "Bill" Shirley

April 27, 1934 – October 15, 2023

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

“…who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?”

~Hunter S, Thompson

Dear Family and Friends,

Bill died peacefully at home in Longmont, with Susan, Marc and Mary around him, on October 15th 2023, aged 89 years. For the previous four years, he had been in ongoing negotiation with prostate and bone cancer, enlisting all the resources of the medical profession, alternative medicine and his own considerable determination and will to remain healthy, active and engaged; his final coaching session was September 25th. Sadly, his body finally said “enough” and his spirit eventually acquiesced and he quietly and gently passed from this adventure to the next one.

As Susan has talked with close friends and family, she learned that Bill referred to himself as “a flawed human being” who was proud of having outlived expectations and having lived longer than all the other males in his family for his and the previous generation. He made the poem “Invictus” his attitudinal mantra, thought of himself as mostly a Buddhist, and in his own Quixotic manner wanted to make the world and those with whom he interacted better, more fully themselves. His favourite songs were Frank Sinatra’s version of “My Way” and any version of “The Impossible Dream” (try the one by Josh Groban). What a wonderfully and fearfully made multifaceted human being he was!

It will be no surprise that Bill left some friendly instructions about what he wanted to have happen after he died:

He wanted a party, with music and food, and while a celebration on the scale of his 80th birthday party is not possible, we are hoping you will join us for a celebration of life gathering on Friday, November 10th from 2 to 4 pm (MST) at the Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman Street, Longmont, Colorado.

Most of all, he wanted you, his family and friends, to come together and have a good time remembering him and telling favourite stories about him and how he influenced you.

If you can join us in person, that would be wonderful. If not, you can 1) send Mary ([email protected]) a favourite Bill story/remembrance and your picture, and 2) join us online for the live streaming of the gathering (www.howemortuary.com." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.howemortuary.com.) We will show your picture and share your words during the gathering. You can also send us pictures of Bill and your times with him that we will add to the Howe website: www.howemortuary.com.

Bill asked to be cremated and have his cremains scattered at his favourite place in the Roaring Fork Valley. The scattering will happen later, Susan is thinking September 2024. Let her know if you want to be included.

He did not want lots of flowers. Instead, please consider a donation to your favourite charity or the “Live and Give Longmont Fund” of the Longmont Community Foundation (www.longmontfoundation.org).

Susan wants to acknowledge the exceptional care and support Bill, and she, received from family and friends, the Trail Winds Hospice, Home Instead, Boulder Internal Medicine – Drs. Bill Blanchette and John Campbell, the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center (Longmont) – Dr. J. Mark Barnett. The team surrounding Bill and Susan made it possible for him to live his fullest life for as long as possible and remain at home, as comfortable and pain free as possible.

Please don’t hesitate to email/text if you have any questions or need additional information. Susan: [email protected] or Mary: [email protected].

Please share this email with others who knew Bill.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for the Shirley family.