Shirley Jane McIntyre's Obituary
Shirley Jane McIntyreSeptember 14, 1934 – August 30, 2011. Shirley was born in Los Angeles, California on September 14, 1934 to Robert Hawes Smither and Berniece Marie Minor. She has an older brother, Robert Hawes Smither, Jr. As the daughter of an optometrist, Shirley called many places home, including San Marino, CA and San Gabriel, CA. Her parents divorced when she was 4 years old. Shirley was 7 years old when the news came over the radio that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. She remembered that her mother, her new stepfather, and their friends had been playing cards and everyone started to cry at the news that the United States was going to war. In the months that followed, her stepfather went into the army and was stationed in Amarillo, Texas. Shirley’s mother went with him, so Shirley and her brother, Bob, went to live with their grandmother, Rena Jane Pierce, in Los Angeles, CA. Grandmother Rena owned a 2-story duplex that was built by Shirley’s grandfather, George Wellington Minor. Shirley remembered that everything was rationed during the war, including food and shoes. Even bubble gum was hard to find, but Shirley and Bob knew Harry from the corner drug store. Harry would save a piece of gum for each of them. They coveted their piece of gum, saving it at night on their bedposts, only to grab it first thing in the morning.Although the sugar was gone, Shirley still created fantastic bubbles from her gum! Shirley cherished those times with her grandmother, where she felt safe and loved. They went to church every Sunday; a big old Baptist church in downtown, Los Angeles. They took the street car to get there, which cost a nickle to ride. After church, they went to a cafeteria for lunch, where you could have sherbet for free after lunch. She enjoyed going to the movies; double features where she would watch Nelson Eddy & Jeanette McDonald. Shirley’s favorite outing was to the See’s chocolate candy store, where she was allowed to choose one piece as a special treat. This was the start of her love of chocolate. She became a connoisseur, able to tell you what is inside each piece of a See’s candy box, just by its shape! It was also during this time that Shirley came to know and love God. Grandmother Rena read her bible every day and taught Shirley how to pray at bedtime. She learned the Lord’s Prayer and “Now I lay me down to sleep…” Shirley attended Arlington Heights elementary school, and graduated from Van Nuys High School. Shirley was very popular in high school, as she was friendly and outgoing. She wore the latest fashions created by her mother, Bea, who was a talented seamstress. Shirley went to University of California, Santa Barbara, where she met Dudley Louis Carlson. They married on September 5, 1954 and had two sons, Dennis Louis Carlson and Rex Allan Carlson. Shirley transferred to Lawton Business School, where she received her training to be a Medical and Dental Assistant. After her divorce to Dudley Carlson, Shirley met George L. McIntyre. From the moment George laid his eyes on Shirley, he fell in love with her and has never stopped loving her. They married on September 10, 1965 and raised the boys at his home on Finch Street in El Cajon, CA. George provided for their family as a plumber, while Shirley stayed home with Dennis and Rex. When the boys were older, Shirley went to work as the front office receptionist and back office nurse for doctors in El Cajon. Shirley is survived by George McIntyre, her husband of almost 46 years, her sons, Rex Carlson and Dennis Carlson, her daughter-in-law, Babette Carlson, her grandson, Christian van der Linden, her brother, Robert Smither, and her sister-in-law, Sally Smither. Shirley enjoyed reading books. She often wished that she had become a teacher. Little did she realize what a teacher she was to so many! Shirley encouraged everyone she cared about to learn, and to keep on learning. One of her favorite pastimes was having lunch with her friends. Shirley’s favorite foods included prime rib, Mexican food, and barbecued food and ice cream. Shirley was a gifted crafter and photographer. Her friends received handmade cards and gifts, created specially for them. She was fun-loving, spontaneous, compassionate, and kind. Shirley had many friends; many of them were life-long friends. A special quality of Shirley’s was her ability to make others feel that she understood their pain and struggles, while also celebrating with them their joys and blessings. Shirley had a giving and willing heart. When Shirley became ill, she was never alone. She was surrounded by family and friends, especially Patti, Maralyn, Marian, Judi, Beth, and Joan. Shirley will miss her neighbors, Evelyn and Emily, who became her extended family. Shirley will miss her cats, Thelma and Joseph. Thank goodness for George, who is now caring for them. Shirley will miss shopping with Rex and with her friends. Most especially, Shirley will miss her talks with her kids. She calls Dennis and Rex her “moonbeams,” the light that made her days worth living. She will miss George, her husband, who she calls the “brightest star” in her universe, because his light has never gone away from her. Now she has entered the presence of the Lord and now we have a guardian angel to watch over us.
What’s your fondest memory of Shirley?
What’s a lesson you learned from Shirley?
Share a story where Shirley's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Shirley you’ll never forget.
How did Shirley make you smile?