Mary Elizabeth Shirley

Mary Elizabeth Shirley (nee Owens), born September 17, 1951 passed away peacefully in her home in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, September 27, 2015 after a courageous two year battle with cancer. Mary was born in Chicago, Illinois and resided in Glen Ellyn, Illinois until graduating from St. Francis High School in 1969. She then attended college at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1973. After relocating to Denver, Colorado, Mary initially worked as an art teacher, and after several years changed her career focus to art and interior decoration wholesale and retail sales. She was a long time employee of Guiry's of Denver, Colorado functioning in a managerial capacity for the company as it expanded from one store to its current four stores in the Denver metropolitan area. Mary's husband Dana Duane Shirley joined her in death three days after her own passing. She is survived by her father, Joseph C. Owens well as her adoptive mother, Ethel Alice Owens and her late mother Ellen Foran Owens. Mary's surviving siblings are her brother, Joseph F. Owens and two sisters, Mary Margaret O'Connell and Sarah Jacobs. Mary's nieces and nephews are: Meaghan Owens, Graham Owens, Connor Owens, Jessica O'Connell, Moira Siagn, Claire Boogaard, Sheila Johnson, John O'Connell, Courtney McNulty, Colleen Jacobs, Parker Jacobs, Jonathan Hunter and Meredith Minné. There will be a shared Celebration of Dana and Mary's lives at 1:00 PM, Saturday, October 24, 2015 at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 1091 South Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80246. Family and friends are invited to share thoughts and condolences at the Guestbook link below.