Mr. Marshall "Mike" Gray Shirley

Shirley, Marshall Gray “Mike”, 81, of Roswell GA went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 15, 2017. We take comfort knowing he is reunited with “the love of his life”, Dorothy “Dot” Bondurant Shirley. Mike was born September 20, 1935 in Tarboro, NC to the late Katherine Lucille and Frank Felton Shirley. At the age of 4, the family moved to Richmond, VA. While attending Thomas Dale High School, at the age of 13, he met Dot. They dated all through high school, graduating in 1953. Also while at Thomas Dale, Mike excelled as a pitcher. He went on to pitch at the University of Richmond for 2 years. He then worked in sales while playing for the American Legion, and after being elite there, he was asked to pitch home games for the Richmond Virginians, a minor league team for the New York Yankees. He was offered a major league contract in 1957 while engaged to Dot. Mike chose a different path, and never regretted or looked back. He and Dot married in February of 1958, started a family, raising two children. In 1973, the family moved to Roswell, GA where Mike had many successful years as a regional sales manager with Nabisco. Mike got tremendous joy from coaching the Lebanon Baptist Church softball teams, golfing with his buddies, annual meetings with his sales teams, trips with the Senior Saints, and the wonderful times spent at Kiawah Island with his family. He taught his grandson Tanner how to pitch, and he and Dot attended “too many to count” games of baseball, football, and especially basketball for both grandsons. A fond and often talked about memory was a deep sea fishing trip with his grandson Jake. And, of course, he adored, his one and only granddaughter, Victoria. Mike was given many endearing names through the years from “Candy Man” to “Mr. Peanut”, but his favorite name of all was the one called out from his grandchildren, “Pop”. Mike’s vibrant and fun personality kept others laughing, and his love for Dot continued as he became her caregiver in 1995. Mike is survived by his sister, Kay Shirley Boteler of Richmond, VA, his two loving children, Michael Derrick Shirley of Roswell, GA, and Katherine “Kathy” Shirley Smith and husband Craig, of Alpharetta, GA. Pop loved and cherished his three grandchildren, Tanner James Smith of Charlotte, NC, Marshall Jacob “Jake” Shirley and wife Christina, of Carrollton, GA, and Victoria Elizabeth Shirley of Temple, GA. Dot and Mike were members of Lebanon Baptist Church. They will both be celebrated and remembered together at a graveside service Friday, July 21, 2017, 10:30, at Green Lawn Cemetery in Roswell , GA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tanner’s Totes Inc., 10400 Stanyan Street, Alpharetta, GA 30022 or online at tannerstotes.com.

Mr. Marshall "Mike" Gray Shirley

September 20, 1935 - July 15, 2017