Shirley J. McNary passed away peacefully on November 2, 2018 at her home in Ione, Oregon. A funeral service will be held November 10, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Ione Community Church in Ione, Oregon, with burial to follow at the High View Cemetery in Ione
She was born In Walla Walla, Washington on December 29, 1928 to George H. and Blanche L. Parman Ransom.
Shirley attended Tum-Alum Grade school and graduated from McLoughlin Union High School in 1948 in Milton-Freewater, Oregon.
After graduation, she attended Kinman Business School in Spokane, Washington where she met her husband of 68 years, Lloyd G. McNary. The married in Lewiston, Idaho on December 3, 1949.
The couple lived in Milton-Freewater a number of years before moving to Ione, Oregon in 1969 so they could farm Shirley’s grandparents’ homestead in the Gooseberry area. Her grandfather homesteaded in 1886 and Shirley’s mother was born at the homestead. In 1981, after retirement, they moved into Ione and lived there the rest of their lives.
Most of her life Shirley was a homemaker. She became interested in painting after the children were older. She belonged to many art organizations including Allied Arts, Morrow County Arts Council, she was juried into membership of the Oregon Water Color Society. Shirley was interviewed once by a newspaper and she said “anyone can learn how to paint”. She enjoyed many different facets of art including china painting.
Shirley and Lloyd enjoyed league bowling in Milton-Freewater and spent many years square dancing with the Grand Squares Club in Ione. Shirley was a life-long avid gardener and she was technology junkie. She enjoyed going to sporting events of her grandchildren and recently became a huge fan of the Portland Timbers.
Shirley is survived by her three children, daughter Marla McNary (Robert Bailey) of Portland, Oregon; son David McNary of Ione, Oregon; and daughter Gayle Gutierrez (Kim Gutierrez) of Heppner, Oregon; grandchildren Aaron Bailey, Megan Bailey, Jessica Gutierrez, Joshua Gutierrez, Wyatt McNary, and Whitney McNary; great-grandchildren Reese and Rachel Gutierrez, Elias, Astrid and Malin Bailey.
She was preceded in death by her husband Lloyd McNary and her parents.
Memorial contributions in Shirley’s name may be made to the Oregon Humane Society, 1067 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97221.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Shirley Jeanne (Ransom) McNary, please visit our Tree Store.