Obituary of Shirley Lee Boyce

In loving memory of Shirley Lee Kirby-Boyce 84, formerly of Colonial Heights, VA. who peacefully passed away in San Antonio Texas on January 25, 2016 due to renal failure. Born in Kitzmiller, MD on January 31, 1931, Shirley was the loving wife of the late Peter Russell Boyce for 61 years, who passed away on March 16, 2014. She was only 16 days old when she was preceded in death by her mother Elsie Clem Kirby and 12 years old when her father Frank Jacob Kirby was killed in a coal mining accident. She is also preceded in death by her brother Frank W. Kirby, and sisters Gladys Beryl, Elsie Ruth, Linda Louise, and Marjory. Shirley – aka…. Babycakes, Mumsie, Mummy, Mom, Mommy, Grandma, Nana and "Nana-Nana" will be deeply missed by her 4 daughters, Barbara NickiLee Seavey and her husband Robert of Plympton, MA., Sherri Lynn Watson of Manistee, MI., Nancy Russell Boyce of Plant City, FL., and Anita Mae Freestone and her husband John C. of San Antonio, TX., 10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She also leaves behind her sister Jean Kirby-Ray of Morgantown, WV. and her three half-brothers Delano Kirby of Austin, TX., Douglas Kirby of Inwood, WV., and Theodore K. Kirby of Vestavia, AL., and numerous nieces and nephews. Shirley lived in Colonial Heights, VA. for 40 years prior to moving to Texas in 2014. While in Virginia, she worked for and retired from Safeway. Shirley was a proud Military Air Force wife who traveled the world with her husband and 4 daughters. Of all the places she got to live, Seville Spain was her favorite, she loved to learn and learning how to speak Spanish thrilled her. These memories of Mom are just a few: She was very talented and even before we were of school age, she taught us how to sew and be creative. She also encouraged us to be strong independent women. Mom loved to sing and would often sing Doris Day's "Que Sera, Sera – Whatever Will Be, Will Be" and Loretta Lynn's "Coal Miner's Daughter". She always referred to herself as a real "Coal Miners' Daughter" as that was her father's occupation. She was so proud of that and would tell everyone she met. Mom loved history, reading mysteries, telling stories of her family and loved traveling back to her hometown of Kitzmiller, MD as often as she could. She loved Kitzmiller so much that she had a special license plate for her car that said "KITZ MD" and would proudly explain its meaning to anyone who would listen. Win or lose, Mom was a loyal Red Sox fan and a proud "American Patriot" – she always had the American Flag hung outside the house no matter where we lived. The family would like to thank the staff at Christus Sister Mary Hospice Center of San Antonio, Texas for all the care and support they gave during her time of need. Private Graveside Ceremony for family will be on Wednesday February 3, at 1:00 PM under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Hopewell, VA. Shirley will be buried next to her beloved husband at Merchants Hope Memorial Gardens in Prince George, VA., where they will be eternally together and can continue their "Pillow Talk". In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions be made to any Veterans or Hospice organization within your local community. Condolences may be registered at www.memorialfh.com