Shirley Yvonne Pyron Woods was born in Cordell Township, Oklahoma to Leslie “Les” Napoleon Pyron and Iva Ilama “Mamo” Hyde, April 21, 1931.  Her early childhood was spent in Cloud Chief, an obscure farming community, now a ghost town. At age seven she moved to Cordell with her parents and her beloved younger sister, Patty LaRue. Imagine the girls delight in the flush toilets of town after having no electricity or running water in the country. Shirley received her primary education at a local school that served students grades 1-12. She excelled in her studies but felt so sad to see that some of her classmates couldn’t afford shoes.

The genesis of her deep seeded patriotism began as she observed home-grown men line up to enlist in military service for WWII. During these turbulent years Shirley moved with her family to Compton, California. Soon after completing high school, she married Fred Emmett Woods III in 1949. These two 18-year-old young lovers spent the following 63 years together until Fred’s passing in 2012. They had two children, Karie Susan and Fred “Guy” Emmett Woods IV, born in 1953 and 1956. Shirley and Fred lived mostly in San Gabriel and Temple City, California. Following their retirements, they moved to Salem, Utah to be closer to family where they enjoyed the best years of their lives together.

Shirley was commonly regarded as the most popular in her neighborhood by children and adults alike. She cared to learn everyone’s names and keep abreast of their interests and activities. But her popularity increased to adoration status within her family circles. Shirley cultivated the gift to deeply love others. Her husband cherished her and her children, their spouses, and grandchildren each felt they were the world to her. Clearly God and family were her priorities although she was always very involved in her communities, including service as a PTA president and bank manager for Bank of America. Her exceptional service resulted in her being voted Best Bank of America Bank Manager of Southern California.

People flocked to Shirley because she possessed genuine interest and love in everyone she met. She is famous for joyfully “celebrating” life each day. Her mantra verse was Psalms 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Shirley Woods left a powerful legacy of faith, love and service to family, church, and community that will endure.

Shirley had a stroke in the spring of 2018 resulting in her spending most of the last four years in a memory care facility. Even in her disabled condition she continued to lift and love those around her and was known as a bright light at the facility. At age 90, she passed away peacefully due to respiratory failure in Springville, Utah, January 20, 2022. She is survived by her two children, their spouses (Sal Nuccio and JoAnna Merrill Woods) as well as six grandchildren and a dozen great grandchildren.

Only private family services will be held due to Covid. However, a livestream for the service will be provided for everyone else to participate. For a live broadcast of the funeral services for Shirley, please use the following link, available shortly prior to 10:30 a.m. Saturday: https://youtu.be/2Pxi5USi4eM

The Woods family luncheon will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Meetinghouse, 2379 East 1100 South, Springville, Utah, following the Interment.