Joseph Shirley

1947 – 2011

In Our Hearts Forever

PARK CITY UTAH - Joseph Charles Shirley peacefully passed with his loving wife Margo Miller Shirley and his two beautiful daughters Anna Rietta and Marisa Jo at his side at 9:15 PM on August 23, 2011 at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Joe was 63 years old.

Joe was born on December 26, 1947 to Riley St. Elmo and Marietta Elizabeth Wermes Shirley at St. Joseph Hospital in Logansport, Indiana. He was preceded in birth by 3 minutes by his loving twin sister and “wombmate” Anita Beth. Joe was one of 8 children (in order of birth): Richard Allen, Thomas Bernard, Riley Keith, Anita, Joe, John Michael, Paul Scott and Diane Kristine.

Known as Huckleberry by close family members, Joe spent his childhood in and around Rochester Indiana. Joe attended Rochester Community Schools, graduating in 1966. He was constantly in the middle of creating and expanding loving relationships, sharing his wit, intellect and Shirley charm. Joe was a highly skilled athlete, actively competing and excelling in sports during his schools years. He was known as a “go to” guy with an impressive field presence.

Joe attended Western New Mexico State University from 1966 - 1970. He was a member of the US Army from 1970 through 1972, serving to support his country during the Vietnam War. After separating from the Army, Joe attended Ball State University and subsequently Eastern New Mexico State University, where he graduated in 1974 with 4 bachelor degrees.

Following graduation, Joe taught history in 1974-1975 at St. John’s Catholic School in Panama City, Florida. In 1975 Joe moved to Salt Lake City where he met his future wife Margo Miller and they jointly worked with severely disabled adults in the community.

In 1976 Joe received national recognition for his heroism when he successfully saved a runaway school bus filled with disabled students as it careened down a winding road in the Wasatch Mountains. As was the case throughout his life, Joe was always willing to put the needs of others before his needs, rising to the occasion to serve and save others.

On November 27, 1976, Joe married his sweetie Margo in San Jose, California. They moved to Park City, Utah where Joe and Margo have continued to live since 1980. They expanded their beautiful family with the birth of their first daughter Anna in 1982, and the arrival of their second daughter Marisa in 1984.

Joe served in numerous leadership capacities for the US Postal Service, joining the organization in 1981 and touching the lives of hundreds of people throughout his career. He retired just three months ago on May 31, 2011. Margo joined Joe in retirement on June 1, 2011.

Joe leaves behind a list of loved ones distributed throughout the world, a list too long to share and impossible to bound. Surviving family members include: Margo (Park City, UT), Anna (Salt Lake City, UT), Marisa (San Diego, CA); his mother Marietta Shirley (Corrales, NM), brother Dick & wife Ellie Shirley (Grants, NM), brother Tom & wife Sheri Shirley (St. George, UT), sister Anita and husband Ron Gunzelman (Columbia, SC), brother Paul & wife Wendy (Albuquerque, NM) and sister Diane & husband Carl Cockrum (Corrales, NM) and numerous nieces and nephews from the extended Shirley family; brother-in-law Fred Miller & wife Jan (Ogden, UT), sister-in-law Marilyn Grondel (Plain City, UT), sister-in-law Sharon Watson and husband Tom (Layton, UT), brother-in-law Michael Miller and wife Vickie (Ogden, UT), sister-in-law Linda Ward and husband Eric (Ogden, UT), sister-in-law Ronda Ernest & husband Bill (Bountiful Utah), and numerous nieces and nephews from the extended Miller family.

Joe was preceded in death by his father Riley S. Shirley in 2004 and his brother John Michael in 2005.

Joe will forever live on in our hearts, souls, and minds. His zest for life reminds us that we should live each moment to the fullest and fill it with laughter and love. We have been, and continue to be blessed by having had Joe in our lives and wish him the best in his next journey. Please take this time to remember and share all the great memories that you have had with Joe and celebrate his life. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.evans-earlymortuary.com.

For more information about Joe’s Life Celebration please go to:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/joeshirley

The family requests that in-lieu of flowers, those desiring to contribute on Joe’s The family requests that in-lieu of flowers, those desiring to contribute on Joe’s behalf please give to one of the following worthy causes that help to make the world a better place:

By Check:

WAVE Wellness Network

501 (c)(3), PO Box #92973, Albuquerque, NM 87111

On-Line:

Education for Generations

http://www.educationforgenerations.org/

Huntsman Cancer Foundation

https://www.huntsmancancerfoundation.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=235

ans & Early Mortuary, Salt Lake City, UT.