Shirley Mcgue

Shirley Helen McGue

May 19th 1929- July 10th 2024 at 10:10am

We are all so lucky that Shirley lived long enough (95!) to see her 6 grandchildren reach adulthood, some of whom have children of their own (4 great grandchildren). Shirley never knew her grandparents, all four passed away before she was born.

Shirley grew up in Toronto where her sister Grace was 21 years her senior. Grace is the mother of Sandra. Her brother Glenn came to Tucson frequently to visit Mom and Dad.

Shirley met my Dad Tom while on vacation in Florida. Their courtship was short and long distance. They married a little over a year later and lived in Key West where Dad was finishing his stint in the Navy. They lived in Key West from April to October, the hottest time of the year, then moved to Lima shortly before winter. Kelly, John, and I grew up in Lima. Mom and dad had a great social life in Lima with lots of friends. After 10 years of being Snow Birds in Tucson, Mom and Dad retired here in late 1988. They had lots of Tucson friends too. Mom loved her pool and was devoted to lap swimming. This past October, she swam 20 laps one day, not bad for being 94 1/2 at the time.

An interesting fact about her work life: Shirley never had a boss who wasn't her father, her husband or herself. In her hometown of Toronto she worked as a secretary for her father's moving company, then as she neared retirement she did bookkeeping for our Dad's asphalt paving company in Lima. In between she was a homemaker and stay-at-home mom until the 70's when she was self-employed as a manager of Springbrook Swim Club, where our family had been members for years before Mom took over.

Composed by David McGue

The following poem was written by the oldest grandchild Kaitlyn Manion:

Our Pearl of Wisdom

She had a spirit that left an unforgettable impression on everyone's hearts

Nanny impacted an endless number of people's lives, valuing loving kindness and family ties

She was a woman of class and surely one of sass

In the end, she endured a fight and her wit and tenacity spoke volumes

She lived a fulfilling life and has left us with memories and stories to tell for generations to come

I have immense admiration for this remarkable woman

I hope to emulate her independence and courage

One profound piece of the puzzle of Nanny's life was Opa

My Nanny and My Opa were soulmates

Their lives together is a love story for the ages

In all our hearts we know these two beautiful souls have reunited

The wind beneath each others wings

Forever dancing in the eternal skies

Heartfelt sentiments scripted by the youngest grandchild Lauren McGue:

Grandmothers are guiding lights for families, and I feel so lucky that grandma was in my life for 26 years. Her wit, compassion, and steadfast disposition were remarkable traits. She was an immense influence on me. I will live everyday in her honor and think of her always. She was a tough lady, making it to 95. We are all so lucky to have had her for so long. I know she taught us all many important lessons that we will carry with us and pass on to others. Shirley Helen McGue will live on in our hearts and her influence will continue to touch lives.