Shirley Parish Olivier

Shirley May Parish Olivier passed peacefully on August 9, 2025, at her home in Galveston, TX. Shirley, a proud native Houstonian, was born on October 3, 1927, and spent her early years in Houston except for a two-year stay in Santa Rosa, California with her beloved paternal Aunt Viola Thigpen and Husband Hugh. Shirley returned to Houston to attend school and ultimately met her future husband, Homer Olivier, in high school. She graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1945, and married Homer on January 16, 1946. The couple spent the next several years traveling the country, before returning to Houston, where Homer attained a geology degree. During the next several years, Homer's work took Shirley from Houston, to Tulsa, Oklahoma, Casper, Wyoming, and finally to Durango Colorado, before Shirley and Homer returned to Houston in 1966. Along the way, Shirley gave birth to her three children. As the children became less dependent, Shirley returned to school, ultimately graduating with honors from University of Houston in 1972 where she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi. Thereafter, she taught history, government and economics, and later earned her Master’s degree in Education as a reading specialist in 1982. She then spent several fulfilling years teaching reading at several public schools around greater Houston. Other than her children, teaching was her greatest joy. Following retirement, she was active in Ashford United Methodist Church.

Shirley was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, grandmother and Houston Cougar sports fan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Homer Edward Olivier, parents, Seth Grady Parish and Irleene Griffing Parish, her siblings Helen Muirhead, Alma Jean Walker, Seth Grady Parish, Jr. (“Bubba”) and Frank R. Parish.

She is survived by her children, D. Craig Olivier (wife Sharon), Lance Olivier (wife Nancy), and Jana Salinger (husband Matt), and five grandchildren, Jeremy Olivier (wife Blair), Renee Salinger, Sean Salinger (wife Sasha), Zachary Olivier and Paige Magnetti (husband Joseph). A special thank you to her caregivers from Visiting Angels, especially Lauran Sharkey and Tracy Larson.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 11:00 am at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home. As a dedicated teacher, Shirley was a strong believer in the public school system. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to help a public school near you.