Eleanor B Shirley

Eleanor B Shirley passed away on March 13, 2022 at the age of 81 after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy by living their lives to the fullest.

Eleanor came into this world on December 27, 1940, in Washington, Iowa, born to the late Theodore and Gertrude Bailey. She and her two older siblings and twin brother shared fond memories of growing up in the mid-west.

Eleanor was a warm and caring wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She grew up in Iowa and loved all things Iowa, especially a good pork tenderloin! After graduating from Washington High, she traveled to Silver City and attended Western New Mexico University obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in education. It was there she met fellow educator and husband of 59 years, Richard Shirley. The couple were wed on 2/2/1963. Prior to pursuing teaching careers, the pair served the US Forest Service as fire lookouts. Living in a tower 60 feet off the ground in the Gila Forest, the two were equipped with binoculars, a compass and a radio, scanning the wilderness for smoke. The couple welcomed their first child, Ann Katherine (Ky) in 1965. Four years later, a son, Stephen joined the clan. The growing family moved to Grants, NM where Eleanor made a career of teaching business at Grants High School for 25 years. After retiring from teaching, she became a federal employee and joined Sandia Labs in Albuquerque, NM. (We are not exactly sure what she did there, it was “top secret” and she was excellent at secrets, simply the best.)

In 2002, Eleanor retired a second time and she and Richard spent time traveling together, mostly between Peoria, AZ and Pueblo West, CO spending time with her family. She was a golf enthusiast and enjoyed the sport early in her retirement. She took great pride that she is the only one in her immediate family to have bragging rights to a hole-in-one. Eleanor was preceded in death by her mother Gertrude (Hammer) Bailey,

Eleanor was preceded in death by her mother Gertrude (Hammer) Bailey, her father Theodore B Bailey, her brother Edward Bailey. She is survived by her loving husband Richard A Shirley, sister Marsha Holmes; twin brother Theodore B (Carol) Bailey; daughter Ky (Tom) Milne; son, Stephen (Andrea) Shirley; grandchildren, Jon Nuanez; Braden and Bryce Shirley; great-grandchildren Hailey and Tristan Waters.

Eleanor will be remembered for her beautiful smile, kind heart and sound words of wisdom. In her last days she continued to offer worldly advice and shared these tender words with her oldest grandson, “Be happy, be healthy, be caring and have fun!” Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be underst00d.