Mary was born December 18, 1923 in New York City to Challis and Estelle (Gerber) Gore. Her father was a freelance financial writer whose profession lost favor during the Great Depression and prompted him to move to California for employment, leaving his “girls” behind. Mary, her mother, and sisters Judy and Janet, spent the summer of 1938 with her maternal grandmother in Indiana. Later that year, they embarked on the long automobile trip west to join Challis in Piedmont, California.
Mary spent the war years of 1941-46 as a student at Pomona College. She met the love of her life, Edwin Roy Shirey, at her best friend's wedding and they were married five months later, in June 1946. They lived the first two years of their marriage in a little house on Ocean Drive in Manhattan Beach. They moved to Westchester and lived there when their children Bill and Barbara were born. In 1950, Ed was called back into service in the Korean Conflict. When he left the service in 1952 they made their home in Walnut Creek where they lived for 39 years. Mary served their church through the library and a bookstore on campus. Mary was involved with Bible Study Fellowship as a group leader and she credits that Bible teaching under A. Wetherell Johnson for fueling her hunger and thirst for God's Word. She was a library consultant for several water resource engineers, setting up and keeping order in their libraries. The 1980's were the travel years; 22 Elderhostels, time-share trips, and a trip to the Holy Land with her father in 1982.
In 1990, Mary and Ed retired to Carmel Valley Manor. In this well-chosen move they were active members in that community of friends. They were devoted supporters of all activities and were involved in every aspect of the Sunday night vesper services. She served selflessly in the Carmel Presbyterian Church as a children’s memory verse listener and as a Women’s Bible Study group leader. She and Ed served together in the Meals on Wheels program, volunteered at a Monterey convalescent home, and as “Older Folders” for the Carmel Foundation, preparing monthly newsletters for mailing to its 4,000 subscribers.
Mary was the lifeline of communication for the family. She composed a thoughtful weekly email newsletter and was in regular communication with family members through beautifully written notes of encouragement or phone calls to get the latest news. A deep love and devotion to serving Jesus Christ directed Mary's life. A faithful servant, she prayed without ceasing, opened her heart to all, and she knew that eternity with God awaited her.
Mary's life verse was Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, which proved true through the trials in her life. Both son, Bill Shirey and daughter Barbara Hansen preceded Mary in death, as did her beloved Ed in 2004. She never faltered in her love of and trust in God. To the very end, she would point to the Bible and say, “I love the Book”.
Mary went home peacefully on December 9, 2013. She is survived by her sisters, Judy Hogness and Janet Venolia, six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, five nieces and nephews, her daughter-in-law Patricia Shirey, and son-in-law Keith Hansen.
A memorial service will be held in her honor at Carmel Presbyterian Church, corner of Ocean and Junipero in downtown Carmel, January 11, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. If you so choose, memorials may be given to Carmel Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 846, Carmel, CA, 93921.
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