Shirley Carter Friend Jr.

Shirley Carter Friend, Jr. of Metairie, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on May 21, 2026, surrounded by family. He was 97. Shirley was born in Berlin, Germany in 1929 and was the son of Shirley Carter Friend and Katherine Breazeale Wheless. He was raised in Natchitoches and Shreveport.

In 1946, Shirley attended Tulane University as part of the NROTC program and received his bachelor’s degree. He was an officer in the US Navy and served on the Admiral’s Staff on an aircraft carrier during the Korean War. Following his military service, Shirley received his law degree from Tulane and was a member of the Moot Court Board. He was also awarded a master’s in law from Yale University in 1956.

While at Tulane, one of Shirley’s friends invited him to visit his family in Norway. It was there that Shirley met his future wife Kirsti Fretheim. They were married in Borre, Norway in 1955 and celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in Norway last summer.

The two made their home in Metairie. Shirley began his career at Lemle & Kelleher. He later joined Texaco where he continued his long and successful legal career. In 2024, the Louisiana Bar Association recognized Shirley as a 70 year honoree, reflecting a legal career dating to 1955. Following his retirement in 1996, Shirley and Kirsti enjoyed traveling and spending their summers in Norway.

Shirley was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where he served on the vestry for many years, also as senior warden. He enjoyed teaching Sunday school to high schoolers, taking his class to night court as part of his special style.

Nothing was more important to Shirley than his family and friends. Over the years he and Kirsti celebrated every occasion with love and enthusiasm, and they brought everyone together at any opportunity. He was an avid and engaging storyteller and endlessly inquisitive in conversation. Wherever he went Shirley made friends easily and treated everyone with the same warmth and enthusiasm.

Shirley is survived by his wife, Kirsti; children Christoffer (Meredyth), Katherine, and Carter (Eileen); grandchildren Avery, Christoffer (Kimmy), Carter (Josh), Connor, and Cameron; sister-in-law Elin; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 5th at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 6249 Canal Blvd. in New Orleans. Visitation begins at 10:00am, service at 11:00am. A reception will follow at the church. Instead of flowers, the family kindly asks for memorial donations to be sent to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.