Shirley Keegan Greer

Shirley Anne Keegan was born in Axtell Kansas in 1930. She grew up on the farm, the second oldest of eight children, during the depression. She graduated as valedictorian from Axtell high school. For a time She taught in a one room school house but then went on to Kansas State College at Manhattan to study business. In 1952 she married Samuel James Greer, a fellow student at Kansas State. She resumed teaching while Sam completed his LLB degree. After graduation, In 1956 they moved the family to Los Angeles California By that time they had two children with another on the way. Shirley was at home for the next few years taking care of their growing family of 6 children. In 1963 Shirley went back to school at Cal State Northridge to obtain a California teaching credential and a masters degree in special education. For the next 40 years She taught special education classes.

Shirley’s life was one of service. Beginning with work on the farm, and helping her mother to care for their large family and later caring for her own large family. Shirley was always available to offer a helping hand to her children as they met life’s challenges. She took them back into her own home when they needed extra support. She helped to raise her Grandson, Noah, so that his mother could continue to work.

Shirley was a devout Catholic and was a faithful member of our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. She participated in many activities there, including the Legion of Mary and often walked to daily Mass. She loved to attend the yearly religious conference put on by the diocese, as well as many other local conferences and retreats.

As her mothering duties lessened in later years, her adventurous nature came out, and she began to travel. She visited Europe, including Ireland with her sister and nieces, and Italy, with her oldest daughter and grandchildren. She visited Medjugorge in 1991 to witness the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary there. And there were many local trips with her daughter Leslianne around the West Coast.

Family was always the focus of Shirley’s life, and she was the matriarch presiding at all family gatherings. Her kindness made us all feel welcomed and supported.

Shirley is survived by four of her children – Marianne Mcgregor, William Greer, Thomas Greer, Leslianne Greer., nine grand children, and two great grandsons as well as 4 of her sisters- Barbara Townsend, Marilyn O’Neil, Patricia Schoen, and Elaine Keegan. She was preceded in death by her sons, Sam and James, and by her husband, Sam.

Memorial services for Shirley will be held at our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Northridge at

10:30 am on Saturday, January 13, With interment to follow at San Fernando Mission cemetery.