William H. Shirley, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, died Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, after a four-year battle with cancer.
He was born March 15, 1947, to William and Theresa Vallery Shirley in Los Angeles. He grew up in California and attended what is now Loma Linda University and Andrews University in Michigan. He was ordained on Aug. 11, 1985. He pastored 10 years before attending chaplaincy school. In February 1993, he moved to Lewiston to serve as a chaplain at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. He was there for 19 years before retiring in 2012. He loved interacting with patients, their families and co-workers. He had many opportunities to preach at area churches, share about Jesus and preside at weddings and funerals.
Bill loved music, often playing it so loudly that it shook the house. He loved the Oregon coast, long walks on the beach and visiting lighthouses. He also liked to say that he was from that state that started with a “C” and had lots of earthquakes.
He is survived by his wife, Beth; his sons, Bill (Suzanne) and Pierre Shirley; stepdaughters Heidi (Ben) Zellerhoff and Holly (Jeremy) Rourick; as well as seven grandchildren, Jackson and Jordan Shirley, Paitton Zellerhoff, and Kent, Krissy, Koal and Keira Rourick; and great-granddaughter Isabelle Rourick-Knoll. He also is survived by five sisters and one brother: Theresa Ann Shirley, Patricia Shirley, Sherry Smith, Tracee Ramirez, Leesa Shirley and Harold Shirley.
Special thanks to Dr. Clinton Morgan and staff at the Cancer Center, and Dr. John Ho and Dr. Celso Chavez for the wonderful care they gave Bill.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1212 19th St., Lewiston.
