Shirley Marie Davies

Shirley Marie Davies was an amazing woman by all accounts. She was caring and funny, progressive and witty, an independent thinker as well as committed wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend. She was down-to-earth yet adventuresome, a good listener as well as a playful humorist. Whether serious or laughing, Shirley made life beautiful for those around her. Shirleys story began at a time when America was recovering from the First World War and enjoying industrial prosperity. Harlem, New York was the creative center for jazz, literature, and art. Women were campaigning for the right to vote and beginning to enter the work force more and more. This world of independence and flare would welcome one of its own when Shirley Marie was born to Joseph and Ruby (Harbaum) Hope on February 15, 1926 in Wyandotte, Michigan. Interestingly, Shirley was delivered by a Dr. Shirley and delighted her father by being born on his birthday. Shirleys father supported the family as a cabinet maker, but tragedy struck when he was killed in an explosion and fire at the chemical plant where he was working. Shirley was 15 at the time and stepped in to help her mother raise her two younger siblings, Virginia and Joseph, Jr. Shirley attended Woodruff Elementary and St. Patricks Catholic Middle School and graduated from Riverview High School. Through the difficult years, Shirley was sustained by her relationships with friends and family, Alva, Gwen and Pat and her girlfriends Shirley (Beckett) and Blanche. Because of her positive personality and love of life, Shirley was able to enjoy a rich childhood that carried her into her adult years. The family moved from Wyandotte to Riverview where some of the joys of her young life were dancing and spending many-a fun time at the Rendezvous in River Rouge. The family moved to Muskegon and she took a job at Arcade Pharmacy where she met the man who would become her husband. Billy Davies and Shirley fell in love, married and began their family. Their daughter Sue was born in 1946, Mary Ann in 1948, David in 1951, Sara in 1954 and Pam in 1956. As a parent, Shirley was supportive and understanding, non-judgmental and open-minded. She was fashionable and fun, energetic and attentive. She had the confidence of her children as well as their friends and was loved by them all. She believed in her kids and always encouraged them to follow their dreams. As a family, the Davies moved nearly every three years between Muskegon, Three Rivers and Owosso. They made annual visits to California and Florida, trips to Toronto and Detroit and spent vacations at a small cottage in Whitehall, Michigan. Among their family traditions were going to the beach, playing games, like Skip-Bo, and snacking on pretzels and cream cheese. When Shirley became a grandmother, the fun kept going. Every summer, the grandkids spent a week with grandma and grandpa in what could only be described as one giant slumber party. Besides spending quality time with her grandchildren, Shirley liked to read, go to concerts, shop for antiques and listen to classic outlaw country music so loudly that family and friends could hear it a long way off. She and Billy counted Bruce McCray, Len and Arlaine Marcil, Virginia and Soph Ouwerkerk, Don and Jean Pyle among their dearest friends. They might concur with Shirleys family that she was a liberal before her time and, on at least one occasion, was somewhat mischievous in that regard. When Billy began to suffer with Alzheimers, she changed his political allegiance from Republican to Democrat. Shirley was just that kind of persona blue jeans, bomber jacket, never-get-old, go-out-laughing kind of gal. Shirley Marie Davies, age 86 of Muskegon, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, November 6, 2012. She will be greatly missed as a loving, vivacious mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her family includes her son, David (Terry) Davies of Muskegon; daughters, Suzanne (Arnie) Netka of CA, MaryAnn (Jon) McDonald of Grand Rapids, Sara (Bill) Whiting of Twin Lake, Pamela (Jim) Stark of Cedar Springs; 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren; sister, Virginia Ouwerkerk of Muskegon; sister-in-law, Carol (Tom) Eory of Buckley; 4 nieces and a nephew. She was preceded in death by her husband Billy and brother Joseph. Celebration of Life service is scheduled for Friday, November 9, 2012, 7:00 PM at the Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon with John VanWyck officiating. Visitation on Thursday, 6-8 PM with a Rosary Service at 8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral HomeMuskegon. Memorial contributions to Alzheimer's Association are greatly appreciated. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book. Clock Life StoryMuskegon