Guy Shirley
Guy Shirley

Obituary of Guy M. Shirley

Please share a memory of Guy to include in a keepsake book for family and friends.
Guy Marshall Shirley, age 84, of Queen Street, Boone, died Sunday morning, July 20, 2008 at Watauga Medical Center. He was born January 14, 1924 in Avery County to Lewis and Ethel Cheek Shirley. Mr. Shirley served in the U.S. Army during WWII. Guy and his business partner Dave Ragan owned and operated the Shirley & Ragan Service Station in Boone for 40 years. Mr. Shirley was an avid fisherman and gardener, presenting a beautiful yard abundant with flowers, fruit and the softest, greenest grass one could ever hope to sink their feet into. He always raised a huge garden that he blessed his family, friends and neighbors with, never accepting a dime for its harvest. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Edna Brown Shirley; one daughter, Donna McNulty & husband, Jerry of Knoxville, TN; two sons, Terry Shirley and wife Bente of Portland, ME and Tom Shirley and wife Pam of Boone; one sister: Lou Fischbein of Palm Springs, CA and one brother, Joe Shirley and wife Ellen of Delmar, CA. Nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren also survive. He was preceded in death by one son, Bobby Guy Shirley; by one sister, Norine Hydle and by two brothers, Howard and Ray Shirley. Guy leaves his closest friends; fishing buddy Ladson Stringfellow, molasses-making buddy, Gene Wilson, his business partner Dave Ragan, as well as countless others. Funeral services will be conducted Friday evening at 7PM at Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel, officiated by Dr. David Luster. The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6:00 until 7:00 PM. one hour prior to services at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home. Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to High Country Health Care System Hospice at 400 Shadowline Drive, Suite 100-B, Boone, NC 28607. The family would like to thank Gene and Odenia Wilson, Ladson and Rita Stringfellow, Greenway Baptist Church and all who have loved and supported them during this time. Online condolences may be made at austinandbarnesfuneralhomecom. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home is serving the Shirley Family.