Ralph James Shirts was born to Bert Darius Shirts and Ilda Mae Lance Shirts. He is the Grandson of James Ellis Shirts and Lydia Musetta Workman Shirts, the Great Grandson of King Darius Shirts and Margaret Haslam Shirts, the 2nd Great Grandson of Peter Shirts and Margaret Cameron Shirts.
He married Margaret Etta Riley on 8 February 1947 in Elko, Elko, Nevada. Together they have 7 children. Peggy Louise Shirts Wilson, Johnnie Forest Shirts, KayLyn Shirts Browning, Joann Marie Shirts, Ralph Dennis Shirts, Lori Leah Shirts Bright, Larry Darius Shirts. There are numerous grandchildren including Richard Sterling Day and Great Grandchildren.
His Obituary: Idaho Press Tribune, Tuesday November 28, 2006.
Ralph James Shirts, 84 of Nampa, died at home surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006 at the Nampa East LDS Stake Center, 3904 East Greenhurst Road, Nampa. A viewing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Zeyer Funeral chapel, 83 North Midland Blvd.,Nampa and from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Church prior to the services.
Ralph was born on June 9, 1922 in LaGrande, Ore., to Bert Darius and Ilda Mae Lance Shirts. When he was 10 days old he moved with his family to Hailey Idaho. His family would move several times between Utah and Idaho as he grew up, before permanently settling in Hailey.
He was in the CCC's, the civil conservation corps. Then after that he joined the Navy which made him the first person to enlist from Blaine County for World War II. During the war he served in the South Pacific Theater, including Guadalcanal. The main ships he served on were the USS Blue, USS Fletcher, USS Vincennes, USS Nicholas and the USS Tabora. He was attached to the Marine Raiders. He received numerous citations and awards, including two presidential citations. Before he was finished he had been in five major battles and had been on three ships that were sunk.
After the war he returned to Hailey and worked in the Triumph Mine. His partner there introduced him to his daughter Margaret E. Riley and after a three week courtship they were married on Feb. 8. 1947 at Elko, Nevada. Their marriage was solemized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on Oct. 14, 1958. Together they had seven children - four girls and three boys.
Ralph worked as a miner in various mines including the Sushine Mine in northern Idaho, the Butte Mines in Montana and the Union Carbine mine in California. He helped with the construction of the Clark Canyon Dam in Montana. He also worked at the Nuclear Atomic Test Site in Nevada. He was a millwright and became a plumber. He went into construction and built Giacobie Square and the Cotton Woods Condos and various other homes up near the Sun Valley Idaho area. He was over the maintenance shop in Sun Valley. He moved to Nampa in 1976 and worked for the Middleton School District as their maintenance supervisor until he retired in 1985.
Ralph was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nampa 9th Ward. He served in numerous callings.
This truly special man has enriched and blessed and touched the lives of many.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret E. Riley Shirts, their children; Peggy and Phil Wilson of Thatcher, Ariz., John and Dotty Shirts of Nampa, KayLyn and Ken Browning of Nampa, Ralph and Sandi Shirts of Billings Mont., Lori and Ray Bright of Nampa, and Larry Shirts of Florence Oregon.; 23 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Rex Shirts of Twin Falls, Id. and Monte Shirts of Southern Africa and one sister, Ormae Smith of Hailey, Id. and numerous nieces nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a daughter Joann, and a grandson Richard and his parents Bert and Ilda Shirts.
He married Margaret Etta Riley on 8 February 1947 in Elko, Elko, Nevada. Together they have 7 children. Peggy Louise Shirts Wilson, Johnnie Forest Shirts, KayLyn Shirts Browning, Joann Marie Shirts, Ralph Dennis Shirts, Lori Leah Shirts Bright, Larry Darius Shirts. There are numerous grandchildren including Richard Sterling Day and Great Grandchildren.
His Obituary: Idaho Press Tribune, Tuesday November 28, 2006.
Ralph James Shirts, 84 of Nampa, died at home surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006 at the Nampa East LDS Stake Center, 3904 East Greenhurst Road, Nampa. A viewing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Zeyer Funeral chapel, 83 North Midland Blvd.,Nampa and from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Church prior to the services.
Ralph was born on June 9, 1922 in LaGrande, Ore., to Bert Darius and Ilda Mae Lance Shirts. When he was 10 days old he moved with his family to Hailey Idaho. His family would move several times between Utah and Idaho as he grew up, before permanently settling in Hailey.
He was in the CCC's, the civil conservation corps. Then after that he joined the Navy which made him the first person to enlist from Blaine County for World War II. During the war he served in the South Pacific Theater, including Guadalcanal. The main ships he served on were the USS Blue, USS Fletcher, USS Vincennes, USS Nicholas and the USS Tabora. He was attached to the Marine Raiders. He received numerous citations and awards, including two presidential citations. Before he was finished he had been in five major battles and had been on three ships that were sunk.
After the war he returned to Hailey and worked in the Triumph Mine. His partner there introduced him to his daughter Margaret E. Riley and after a three week courtship they were married on Feb. 8. 1947 at Elko, Nevada. Their marriage was solemized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on Oct. 14, 1958. Together they had seven children - four girls and three boys.
Ralph worked as a miner in various mines including the Sushine Mine in northern Idaho, the Butte Mines in Montana and the Union Carbine mine in California. He helped with the construction of the Clark Canyon Dam in Montana. He also worked at the Nuclear Atomic Test Site in Nevada. He was a millwright and became a plumber. He went into construction and built Giacobie Square and the Cotton Woods Condos and various other homes up near the Sun Valley Idaho area. He was over the maintenance shop in Sun Valley. He moved to Nampa in 1976 and worked for the Middleton School District as their maintenance supervisor until he retired in 1985.
Ralph was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nampa 9th Ward. He served in numerous callings.
This truly special man has enriched and blessed and touched the lives of many.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret E. Riley Shirts, their children; Peggy and Phil Wilson of Thatcher, Ariz., John and Dotty Shirts of Nampa, KayLyn and Ken Browning of Nampa, Ralph and Sandi Shirts of Billings Mont., Lori and Ray Bright of Nampa, and Larry Shirts of Florence Oregon.; 23 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Rex Shirts of Twin Falls, Id. and Monte Shirts of Southern Africa and one sister, Ormae Smith of Hailey, Id. and numerous nieces nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a daughter Joann, and a grandson Richard and his parents Bert and Ilda Shirts.
Ralph James Shirts was born to Bert Darius Shirts and Ilda Mae Lance Shirts. He is the Grandson of James Ellis Shirts and Lydia Musetta Workman Shirts, the Great Grandson of King Darius Shirts and Margaret Haslam Shirts, the 2nd Great Grandson of Peter Shirts and Margaret Cameron Shirts.
He married Margaret Etta Riley on 8 February 1947 in Elko, Elko, Nevada. Together they have 7 children. Peggy Louise Shirts Wilson, Johnnie Forest Shirts, KayLyn Shirts Browning, Joann Marie Shirts, Ralph Dennis Shirts, Lori Leah Shirts Bright, Larry Darius Shirts. There are numerous grandchildren including Richard Sterling Day and Great Grandchildren.
His Obituary: Idaho Press Tribune, Tuesday November 28, 2006.
Ralph James Shirts, 84 of Nampa, died at home surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006 at the Nampa East LDS Stake Center, 3904 East Greenhurst Road, Nampa. A viewing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Zeyer Funeral chapel, 83 North Midland Blvd.,Nampa and from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Church prior to the services.
Ralph was born on June 9, 1922 in LaGrande, Ore., to Bert Darius and Ilda Mae Lance Shirts. When he was 10 days old he moved with his family to Hailey Idaho. His family would move several times between Utah and Idaho as he grew up, before permanently settling in Hailey.
He was in the CCC's, the civil conservation corps. Then after that he joined the Navy which made him the first person to enlist from Blaine County for World War II. During the war he served in the South Pacific Theater, including Guadalcanal. The main ships he served on were the USS Blue, USS Fletcher, USS Vincennes, USS Nicholas and the USS Tabora. He was attached to the Marine Raiders. He received numerous citations and awards, including two presidential citations. Before he was finished he had been in five major battles and had been on three ships that were sunk.
After the war he returned to Hailey and worked in the Triumph Mine. His partner there introduced him to his daughter Margaret E. Riley and after a three week courtship they were married on Feb. 8. 1947 at Elko, Nevada. Their marriage was solemized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on Oct. 14, 1958. Together they had seven children - four girls and three boys.
Ralph worked as a miner in various mines including the Sushine Mine in northern Idaho, the Butte Mines in Montana and the Union Carbine mine in California. He helped with the construction of the Clark Canyon Dam in Montana. He also worked at the Nuclear Atomic Test Site in Nevada. He was a millwright and became a plumber. He went into construction and built Giacobie Square and the Cotton Woods Condos and various other homes up near the Sun Valley Idaho area. He was over the maintenance shop in Sun Valley. He moved to Nampa in 1976 and worked for the Middleton School District as their maintenance supervisor until he retired in 1985.
Ralph was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nampa 9th Ward. He served in numerous callings.
This truly special man has enriched and blessed and touched the lives of many.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret E. Riley Shirts, their children; Peggy and Phil Wilson of Thatcher, Ariz., John and Dotty Shirts of Nampa, KayLyn and Ken Browning of Nampa, Ralph and Sandi Shirts of Billings Mont., Lori and Ray Bright of Nampa, and Larry Shirts of Florence Oregon.; 23 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Rex Shirts of Twin Falls, Id. and Monte Shirts of Southern Africa and one sister, Ormae Smith of Hailey, Id. and numerous nieces nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a daughter Joann, and a grandson Richard and his parents Bert and Ilda Shirts.
He married Margaret Etta Riley on 8 February 1947 in Elko, Elko, Nevada. Together they have 7 children. Peggy Louise Shirts Wilson, Johnnie Forest Shirts, KayLyn Shirts Browning, Joann Marie Shirts, Ralph Dennis Shirts, Lori Leah Shirts Bright, Larry Darius Shirts. There are numerous grandchildren including Richard Sterling Day and Great Grandchildren.
His Obituary: Idaho Press Tribune, Tuesday November 28, 2006.
Ralph James Shirts, 84 of Nampa, died at home surrounded by loved ones on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006 at the Nampa East LDS Stake Center, 3904 East Greenhurst Road, Nampa. A viewing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Zeyer Funeral chapel, 83 North Midland Blvd.,Nampa and from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Church prior to the services.
Ralph was born on June 9, 1922 in LaGrande, Ore., to Bert Darius and Ilda Mae Lance Shirts. When he was 10 days old he moved with his family to Hailey Idaho. His family would move several times between Utah and Idaho as he grew up, before permanently settling in Hailey.
He was in the CCC's, the civil conservation corps. Then after that he joined the Navy which made him the first person to enlist from Blaine County for World War II. During the war he served in the South Pacific Theater, including Guadalcanal. The main ships he served on were the USS Blue, USS Fletcher, USS Vincennes, USS Nicholas and the USS Tabora. He was attached to the Marine Raiders. He received numerous citations and awards, including two presidential citations. Before he was finished he had been in five major battles and had been on three ships that were sunk.
After the war he returned to Hailey and worked in the Triumph Mine. His partner there introduced him to his daughter Margaret E. Riley and after a three week courtship they were married on Feb. 8. 1947 at Elko, Nevada. Their marriage was solemized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple on Oct. 14, 1958. Together they had seven children - four girls and three boys.
Ralph worked as a miner in various mines including the Sushine Mine in northern Idaho, the Butte Mines in Montana and the Union Carbine mine in California. He helped with the construction of the Clark Canyon Dam in Montana. He also worked at the Nuclear Atomic Test Site in Nevada. He was a millwright and became a plumber. He went into construction and built Giacobie Square and the Cotton Woods Condos and various other homes up near the Sun Valley Idaho area. He was over the maintenance shop in Sun Valley. He moved to Nampa in 1976 and worked for the Middleton School District as their maintenance supervisor until he retired in 1985.
Ralph was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nampa 9th Ward. He served in numerous callings.
This truly special man has enriched and blessed and touched the lives of many.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret E. Riley Shirts, their children; Peggy and Phil Wilson of Thatcher, Ariz., John and Dotty Shirts of Nampa, KayLyn and Ken Browning of Nampa, Ralph and Sandi Shirts of Billings Mont., Lori and Ray Bright of Nampa, and Larry Shirts of Florence Oregon.; 23 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Rex Shirts of Twin Falls, Id. and Monte Shirts of Southern Africa and one sister, Ormae Smith of Hailey, Id. and numerous nieces nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by a daughter Joann, and a grandson Richard and his parents Bert and Ilda Shirts.
