Shirley Marian Reel

She was the beloved daughter of George Brown of Scotland and Florence Antill of London, England. Her parents moved from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, in the early 1930s to Visalia, California, where Shirley was born on June 16, 1933. She was the youngest of three children. Two brothers, George and Bill Brown, have since passed away many years ago. Shirley’s family moved to the Fairfax-Melrose area in the early 1940s, where she would grow up.

Although Shirley met her future husband as childhood friends at the age of 11 she and Richard Reel later began dating and married at the age of 18 and 19. They shared a long loving life of 72 years. They had 3 children, Deborah Smith, Julie Martin, and Robert Reel. Shirley loved each of them dearly. She was proud to become a grandmother to six and a great-grandmother to five. Lauren and Blake were especially close to Shirley.

As a young girl Shirley was hired to work as a Shirley Temple stand-in. As fate would have it she had a wondering eye and could not continue. Shirley then became a competitive speed skater and had a drive to work hard. She would later move to Oregon and then Washington with her father for a short time but returned home to live with her mother. This is when she began dating Richard and attended Fairfax High. Shirley started working at the age of 15 at the local drug store with many fond memories and stories. She continued working at various jobs.

After her marriage to Richard, Shirley continued to work when he was called to active duty while raising their first child. It was after his discharge from service they moved to the San Fernando Valley and raised their kids.

Shirley landed a part-time night position at Valley Presbyterian Hospital as a phone operator while taking care of their three children during the day. Shirley was a strong, determined woman who returned to school at the age of 32 to earn her GED from El Camino High. She was very proud of this accomplishment as she had also worked her way up to Telecommunications Supervisor at the hospital. She spent 41 years there before retiring at the age of 68. But she was asked to work a few more years at Southern California Orthopedic Institute and she did for 5 years. At the age of 76 she still had the will to volunteer at Brighton Gardens Assisted Living Facility for 10 years as well as Holy Cross Hospital both until Covid hit and they no longer allowed volunteers. Shirley was 86 years old at the end of her volunteer work.

After the children were grown Shirley enjoyed traveling with her husband visiting many countries and parts of the United States. Later in life, they met two couples on one of their vacations and Shirley formed a close bond with a group of women who all played cards and poker together for many years. Shirley had a witty sense of humor with a great laugh and beautiful smile, she loved to spend time with people and be sociable. She had a passion for work and loved volunteering while being a giving and generous person. She was a woman of immense strength and dignity and cherished every moment spent with her loved ones. She will be forever missed and will forever be in our hearts.

Shirley was a member of Hillcrest Christian Church since 1993 which would later become Shepherd Church in Porter Ranch. Shirley and Richard were faithful to attend weekly services while belonging to Life Groups and faithfully tithe. When it became difficult for Shirley to walk the distance from the parking lot to the church because of her knees, they were faithful to watch the service every week on Shepherd Live from their couch at home.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Richard Reel, three children, Deborah Smith, Julie Martin, and Robert (Loretta) Reel, five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and one daughter-in-law. Shirley was predeceased by her grandson Isaac Robert Reel.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Shirley's memory may be made to:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital,

https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/DIY/DIY?px=8677263&pg=personal&fr_id=154020

Or

Tunnel to Towers Foundation: https://dogood.t2t.org/IMOShirleyReel