Shirley Ann Boorsma

Shirley Ann Boorsma, age 86, passed away on the morning of January 4, 2024, eager to meet her Savior. She was preceded in death by her husband of 25 years, Robert L. Boorsma, and granddaughter, Samantha Bahl. She is beloved and survived by her children: Scott (Susan) Hughes of Abilene, Texas, Julie (E.J.) Johnson of Walker, MI, and Franklin (Jackie) Hughes of Ripley, West Virginia; as well as grandchildren: Scott, Eric, Cambra, Brenna, Tyler, Jchon, Isaac, Langston, and Noah; and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Sandi Murdock, of Ft. Wayne, IN.

Shirley was born on January 17, 1937, in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to Robert L. Hollenbacher and Helen A. (Boger) Hollenbacher, and was the second of 5 sisters: Julia Jackson, Betty Erskine, Sharon St. George, and Sandi Murdock. Growing up, she loved fishing with her dad but refused to go to school if her hair wasn’t quite right.

She spent most of her adult life in Grand Rapids, MI where she was active in the Church of Christ community, particularly as a member of Grandville Church of Christ, where she worshiped and served for over 40 years. Her faith changed the course of generations. Shirley proudly spent her working career in the offices at Meijer and continued to enjoy monthly meetings with her “Meijer ladies.”

Shirley will best be remembered for her unwavering faith. She shared the love of Jesus with all she held dear and avidly conducted and participated in Bible studies until the end of her earthly life. Her loved ones could rely on her daily prayers and will miss starting their mornings with her Bible verses and the occasional song from the Gaither Family.

She was generous, kind, quick to laugh, and a fountain of godly wisdom… though sometimes a bit blunt. She loved being on the water and enjoyed her years of boating on “Shirley’s Diamond.” She hated garlic and loved The Temptations. She always kept her worn and underlined Bible open and her house too hot. She played guitar, had a way with words, and was excited by family genealogies. She loved the smell of lilacs through open windows, watching the birds in the winter, and was delighted by rocking babies. Her kitchen was always stocked with suckers, Twinkies, and other sweet treats for her great-grandchildren and cold Cokes for everyone else.

While she began most of her phone calls with, “I’m not going to keep you, but…” we all wish we could’ve kept her a little longer.

Her visitation will be held from 5-7 pm on Friday, January 12, 2024, at Grandville Church of Christ, 3725 44th St SW, Grandville, MI 49418.

Her funeral will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Grandville Church of Christ, 3725 44th St SW, Grandville, MI 49418 at 11 am with a luncheon to follow.