Shirley Loween Thackeray

Shirley Loween Thackeray completed her earthly journey on ¬October 19, 2021. She was surrounded by many of her family who lovingly held space for her as she made her way back home.

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Shirley enjoyed a simple, humble, and beautiful life. Her wealth was measured in love and her friends and family are all the richer because of it.

She was born on September 16, 1934 to James and Anna Hensley in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was her daddy’s girl and her mama’s best friend. She was the only daughter in a family of five brothers (one passed at six months). While being the only girl proved to be disadvantageous at times, it had some perks. She was the first sibling to get her bath in a shared basin of water and she got her own sleeping space on the sofa until her baby brother, Don, came along. She was teased plenty by her brothers, but they were also very protective of their sis. Shirley enjoyed learning dance and wearing costumes sewn by her mother. She dreamed of being able to dance like Fred Astaire, but her bigger dream was to have a family.

She met Thomas Boyd Thackeray when she was 15 years old. Boyd helped her dad with his garbage business and was also her brother Jimmy’s friend. Again, a perk of having brothers. She knew Boyd was the man she would marry when she first met him, but his sailor suit and a lovely gift of boxed chocolates under the Christmas tree really sealed the deal. They were married on November 23, 1951. They enjoyed the simple pleasures of car rides, card games, ice cream treats and her instigated water fights and other playful exchanges. They created a beautiful family together – four daughters, Shirley Ann, Debbie, Barbara and Penny, and one son, Steve. They gave their young family many cherished memories. Although they later divorced, Shirley decided to be sealed to Boyd for all eternity through temple work completed by her family.

During her life she held a few different jobs. She was a lunch lady, a poultry processor, a binder factory worker, a medical equipment assembler, and finally, she was your friendly Avon lady. Some of these jobs were certainly more satisfying than others, but none were as treasured as that of raising her family and caring for her mama during her final years.

In her later years, Shirley enjoyed life by visiting family and friends, playing cards with her girls, simple family trips to St. George, Idaho, and Disneyland; car rides, shopping, getting her hair done, eating a good meal, and appreciating a fancy piece of chocolate.

Shirley was warmly embraced and welcomed home by her Heavenly Father and her loved ones who preceded her in death; her mama and daddy, her daughter Shirley Ann Canham, her son Steven Thackeray, and three brothers and three sisters-in-law; Glenn and Jean Hensley, Jarold Hensley, Bob and Lorna Hensley, Sandy Hensley, and her beloved soul sister, Gerda Plute. She will continue watching over her loved ones who are still earth side, her three daughters, Debbie Berry (Mike), Barbara Ruff, and Penny Berry, her daughter-in-heart, Janet Richardson, her brothers James Hensley (Pat) and Don Hensley, 25 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Shirley’s family sends a most heartfelt thank you to her hospice nurse, Kristy, her hospice social worker, Marco, the CNA’s and other hospice staff, her ward family, the many friends and family who called and visited, and her earthly angels who cared for her around the clock during her final months. May all who loved Shirley know that she loved you more.

Viewing will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery in West Jordan, Utah. Graveside service will follow right after.

To participate in the services from your own home via live stream, please view instructions below.

STREAMING INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Joining by computer

a. Go to zoom.us in any internet browser

b. Click “join meeting”

c. Enter the meeting id - 8015661249

d. A box will open saying “https://zoom.us wants to open this application”. Click “open zoom”

e. Click “Join with Computer Audio”

f. Click “Mute” in the bottom left hand corner so that your audio does not interrupt the funeral services

2. Joining by phone or iPad

a. Download the Zoom app

b. Open the app and select “join a meeting”

c. Enter the meeting id - 8015661249

d. Select “join without video”

e. Select “Call using internet audio”

f. Select “mute” in the bottom left hand corner so that your audio does not interrupt the funeral services.