Marilyn Lee Shirley

Obituary for Marilyn Shirley Myrtle Beach Marlyn Lee Shirley Mrs. Marlyn Lee Shirley, wife of the late Jack Shirley, entered eternal life on May 30,2014 . She was born in Galivants Ferry on August 16, 1925, a daughter of the late Noah Rufus and Docia Lee. Mrs. Shirley was the last surviving member of the Rufus Lee family. After graduating Aynor High School and Perry Business School of Perry, Georgia, Mrs. Shirley was a secretary for Dargan Lumber for one year and then worked for Myrtle Beach Lumber Company for 39 years. She and her husband owned and operated Peggy's Motel in Myrtle Beach for many years. Mrs. Shirley was active in civic and religious organizations all her life. She was co-founder of the Pannel School for Retarded Children, which was established in the sixties as the first facility in Horry County for serving the mentally disabled. She was a charter member of the Myrtle Beach Business and Professional Women's Club and was honored in 1967 as the club's Career Woman of the year. She was a member of Senior Friends where she volunteered weekly until age 83. She was also a member of the Woodman of the World, and the Myrtle Beach Chapter of AARP. She was a devoted church member first at First Baptist of Myrtle Beach and then she and her late husband were founding members of Timberlake Baptist Church.. She was an avid member of Andrew Carnegie Speaking Clubs and Arthur Murray Dancing Classes. She visited a different place in the U.S. each year. She traveled to New Orleans, New York, and to Disneyland when it first opened. After she married at age 57, she and Mr. Shirley became avid travelers. They visited many places in Europe where Mr. Shirley was active in the Army Engineers troop 172 during WWII. They also visited Hawaii and places in the U.S. where they had never been and took a cruise to Panama and Alaska. In addition, locating all of the men of Mr. Shirley's military troop and organizing yearly reunions became their mission. After Mr. Shirley passed in 1997, she made two trips to Greece with family and friends and her last trip was to Panama with her beloved brother, Hinson Lee. Marlyn was predeceased by four brothers and one sister Scarborough Rabon, Coolidge Lee, James Kelly Lee, Hinson Lee, and Veanna Wietrick. She is survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. She was an inspiration to her family as she set goals continually throughout her life and worked hard to achieve them. She assisted her family with her wisdom, gifts, and encouragement throughout her life. Marlyn is remembered as a compassionate and caring individual who touched many during her lifetime. She was fiercely independent, always spoke her mind and had a keen wit and sense of humor. Aunt Lynn, as she was known by many, will always be greatly loved and remembered. Funeral services will be at Timberlake Baptist Church of Myrtle Beach with visitation at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday June 4, 2014. The Memorial Service will be at 1:00 p.m. with a reception immediately after the service in the Timberlake Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Burial will follow at 3:30 P.M. at Hillcrest Cemetery in Conway, Hwy 544, Veterans section. An online guest register is available at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully request that memorials be made to the Alzheimers Foundation, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, or to Timberlake Baptist Church 9850 Hwy 707, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29588. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is serving the family. $(document).ready(function(){ });

Marilyn Lee Shirley

August 16, 1925 - May 30, 2014