“Glory be to the Father
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit…”
Our wonderful mother, Shirley, died peacefully on the afternoon of October 18th, in Butte Montana, of old age. She was at the home of her son and daughter in law, who were at her side as she left this earthly world and began her spiritual journey home.
Shirley was born on August 12th, 1930—in Washington Indiana– and was blessed to grow up in a healthy, happy family environment. Her parents Ezra and Myna Moren along with her two older sisters Mary Ellen and Vera, provided a solid family unit. Shirley was a bit of a “tom boy” and enjoyed living on the farm, all of the animals, and everything sports, especially basketball, softball, and football. She played the Sousaphone in the High School marching band and enjoyed school, church, and family activities.
In 1952 Shirley graduated from Indiana Central College with an English degree. She was a member of the women’s basketball team in the era of the half court format. In 1954 she married former high school and college classmate, Roy Turley, and it was the beginning of a beautiful and loving relationship between best friends.
In 1959, Roy accepted a chemistry teaching position at Otterbein College in Westerville Ohio. From 1959 to 1977, Shirley raised her boys, Mark and Darrell and ran the household. Roy and Shirley were active in college activities and Christian Education in the United Methodist church. Shirley entertained faculty and students with homemade dinners, pies, and evenings of conversation during the turbulent 1960’s and 1970’s. Shirley stayed busy pitching batting practice, rebounding the basketball, and throwing the football with her boys.
In 1977, Roy moved Shirley and the boys to Butte Montana for an administrative position at Montana Tech. The Turley’s loved Butte and participated in community, college, church, and Butte Central activities. The 1970’s saw the beginnings of women’s full court basketball across the country. Shirley assisted in coaching women’s basketball with coach Mike Thompson at Butte Central and with Coach Jo Buyse at Montana Tech.
Shirley and Roy joined St. Johns Episcopal Church and loved the prayer book, the Eucharist, and the fellowship of an all-inclusive congregation. During the 1980’s Roy and Shirley–as a team–felt the calling for priesthood. The Bishop agreed, and Roy and Shirley were off to seminary at Nashotah House in Wisconsin. Shirley worked as an LPN and studied Episcopal ministry along with Roy. In the late 1980’s, the Bishop assigned Roy and Shirley to the churches in Ennis/Jeffers and Virginia City. They were thrilled to return to Montana and felt as if they were home.
Illness forced Roy to resign from their ministry, and he and Shirley moved back to Butte in 1994 and he died in 1995. Shirley remained living on the West side of Butte until November of 2019 when she moved in with her son and daughter-in-law. Shirley turned 90 in August and reminded us that she had a good life with loving parents, a wonderful husband and family, a beautiful home on the West side and a comfortable last year with family and her beloved cats.
Thank you, mom, for always being there!
Shirley is survived by her son: Mark, his wife Dani, and their children Elizabeth, Kelsey, Anna, and Olivia, of Rochester, New York. Her son Darrell, and his wife Lisa of Butte, Montana.
A big thank you to Dr. Jake Taverna and his nurse Cheryl; Compassus Home Health Care, Compassus Hospice Care, Reverend Theresa at St. John’s; her kind neighbors on the West side, her friends at the Belmont Senior Citizens Center, and her second family at the St. Francis Veterinary Hospital. Donations in Shirley’s name may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Butte, Montana, or the Roy H. Turley scholarship fund at Montana Tech.
“…As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end, Amen.”
Due to COVD-19, no services will be held. Shirley will be interred at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Butte.
Please visit below to offer a condolence or share a memory of Shirley. Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Shirley and her family.
Jay R Hone says
I met Shirley (through Roy) in Westerville, OH, in 1971. They were such a team. As a Chemistry PhD, he always said he never would have achieved that or his administrative positions if he hadn’t married an English major! She was the hostess and homemaker, supporting her boys in all their activities. She was also always supportive of the students, like me. Always welcoming. Excited for the success of others.
Jo Ann Buysse says
Saddened to hear that my dear friend Shirley Turley has left this world! She and her husband Roy were so influential in my life in Montana. Shirley volunteered to be my assistant basketball coach when there was very little funding or support for women’s sports. She also gave me strength and hope, and encouraged me to continue coaching during those challenging years. She was a quiet and positive mentor who helped build championship teams. I’m sure that all of the athletes have great memories as well.
Our friendship continued with yearly visits and letters the past 30 years. Her husband Roy, who served as the Dean at Montana Tech was also very supportive and was our scorekeeper. They hosted team dinners at their home. Fond memories and a huge hole in my heart. 💔 Rest In Peace dear friend. I will miss you!
Meg Murphy says
I was saddened to hear the news of Shirley’s passing. I was fortunate to be coached by shirley at Butte Central and cannot express how wonderful she was to all of us. As I went on to caoch, she gave me a few of her books on coaching and she always checked to see how I was doing. She was a womderful individual and will be missed. My thoughts and prayers to the family. Rest in piece dear Shirley.
Julie Hoklin says
Shirley made this world a better place. She was a part of the Montana Tech women’s sports programs in the 1980’s. . .and was a big part of our sports family lead by Jo Buysse. How lucky so many of us have been to visit with her over the last few years on our trips to Butte.
“A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.”
Maya Angelou
Blessings to all … the angels will be dancing!
J.B. George says
Shirley Turley was the first Sunday School teacher whom I did not drive to despair. As a kid with ADHD (before it was called that), I was a handful. She allowed my “differentiated learning” of the faith. Later, Shirley and Roy encouraged my developing skills as a young church musician and affirmed to my parents the value of a liberal arts education. Shirley and Roy’s theology of inclusion was an early example to me years before I was ready to embrace that kind of radical welcome in my own faith. More recently, when Shirley spoke of some people who had left her church in a painful schism, she had such a non-judgmental attitude about it, saying “They would always be welcome back.” Today’s polarized world needs more people like Shirley Turley. Her life was an inspiration, and her memory is a blessing.
Jane Shipp says
I first met Roy and Shirley during the early ‘90’s at a clergy conference in Billings. We immediately became good friends, and I witnessed the fruits of their ministry in Ennis and Virginia City. Nothing, including blizzards, stopped them from driving over “the hill” to Virginia City on Christmas Eve for the service. After Roy’s death Shirley remained active in Diocesan meetings, and that gave us an opportunity to maintain our friendship. Shirley was always fun and exhibited her strong faith in God. She was an inspiration to me as well as all who knew her. Darrell and Lisa, you are in my prayers at this time. May the love of God and friends comfort you. May she Rest In Peace and rise in glory.
Gail M Barney says
So sorry to hear of Shirley’s passing, but know the angels are dancing.
I met Shirley at St John’s. We moved to Butte in 1980, not long after Shirley and Roy. I think our first conversation was in the down, downstairs of St John’s discussing Sunday School. We ended up teaching in the Upper Room the older kids. We had such fun. We would meet once during the week to plan and spent most of that time in laughter. I remember trying to make a Biblical time line strung across the ceiling. She taught me much about being a mother, teacher and Christian.
I remember being in Ennis one summer day with our kids. Shirley and Roy were driving by and saw us and insisted on taking us to lunch, a fun time.
She was a grand lady, a life well lived.
Gail Barney
Barb Doty says
I was saddened to hear of Shirley’s passing. I first met Shirley at a Montana Tech basketball game. We became friends and enjoyed many Tech basketball and volleyball games together. After I moved from Butte we stayed in touch and were able to go to lunch when I came back to Butte. Rest In Peace my friend.
Marie Peterson says
I’ve only met Shirley once or twice through her son Mark, but have imagined her many times with Mark’s stories of her growing up. He loves to tell of the times she played ball with her boys in the yard, pitching I think, and admits she was pretty good at it. He knows he had a blessed childhood with her as a mom, and always speaks so lovingly of her. The best gift a boy could ever have I say! Knowing and treasuring Mark as his sister in law, I’d say she raised a pretty wonderful guy….loyal, kind, fun, and one of those Dads who loves his girls, wife, and family so endearingly and steadfastly, you just know a strong woman must have been behind it all, and that is what I see in Shirley.
Most sincerely,
Marie Peterson
Hilda Dow says
I met Shirley in our freshman year at indiana Central College. Her rare humor and fun-filled spirit made her the ideal friend. There are so many memories that make me smile even now, 72 years later. We lost track of one another for a while until our fellow Centralite and dear friend, Eloise Bilby Jones, began a Round Robin among about six of us. That Round Robin has lasted through the years, but it seems to have stalled now. My husband and I visited Shirley in Butter for a wonderful week in 2002. Shirley was a wonderful person and friend. Her faith was strong, even at Roy’s death. I don’t think she ever recovered from that death. Their marriage was extraordinarily strong and loving, and they rejoiced in their boys. Shirley, we’ll miss you! Hilda Dow
Anonymous says
I am so sad to hear of Shirley’s death. She was always such a great sport and a fun person to know. I also met Shirley in our freshmen year. I forget how it happened but six of us became known as the Five Yokels and a Uke. There is even a picture in the 1952 Oracle to prove it. We lost touch with each other after graduation so I was inspired to start a Round Robin which is still flyiing, full of our life events and sometimes pictures. I am so glad that she spent the last year of her life in your home where she was loved and card for, Darrell and Lisa. I know from our Robin letters that this will be espec;ially hard for Mark. Give him a hug from all of us birds. Eloise
carol {lueck] hacker says
our gift of knowing Rev Turley and Shirley started during his ministry at St Paul’s in Virginia City. My daughter Kristina was not yet a teen she benefited from the wisdom and warmth of both and went on to graduate from Sewanee I was on the vestry and taught Sunday school one hour together for all ages we were able visit them after they moved to Butte and always came away with more peaceful hearts from the love and warmth they offered hug one another and treasure the memories carol and kristina
Julie L Bushmaker says
Mark, Darrell, Lisa and families,
We are so sad to hear of Shirley’s death. What a gift to have known her and feel her love. She was one in a million. We will never forget her welcoming us to Butte, to your home and to your family. God bless her and let her reap her many rewards. Julie and Bob Bushmaker
Ann Peat says
I knew Shirley when we were both members of Church of the Master in Westerville, OH. She attended my Bible Study and we became good friends. I learned a lot from her about raising my two boys. We kept up the friendship through the years at Christmas but I hadn’t heard from her in several years. Just checked up to see if she had died and found her obituary here.
Char Schultz says
Darrell and Mark, so sorry for the loss of your wonderful mom. She was a mentor to me when I had a young family in Westerville. We were close friends and one day she came over and gave me a book for the kids – “Pondus the Penguin.” At the same time, she told me that she and the family were moving to Montana. I was so crushed because she was my first friend at Church of the Master. Her life was so full and rich with contributions to you and your families as well as to the greater community and to her church. I am glad she was in your home and that she had such a rich, full life. She was a dear friend to me. Praying for you during this Christmas season.