Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County, CA
Published in the "Big Bear Grizzly"
File uploaded 18 Feb 2005

This file is part of the California Tombstone Project
http://www.rootsweb.com/~cemetery/californ.html


Shirley Wood Hirons
 
Community activist Shirley Wood Hirons, 81 years old, died peacefully in her 
sleep on December 24, 2004, at the Skilled 'Nursing Facility of the Bear Valley 
Community Hospital.

Shirley, well known in Big Bear Valley as a smiling, active presence in community 
affairs, served as director of the MWD, vice-president of the local AARP, and board 
member of the Big Bear Valley Community Health Care District Foundation. She was 
also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Big Bear Valley where she had been an "interviewer" 
for the Gifts for Kids / Toys for Tots program, as well as a "Handy Kiwanian" and a 
supporter of the Kiwanis International Iodine Deficiency (IDD) Program. Shirley served 
for years as a member of the Mayors Prayer Breakfast committee. She had been active in 
the Masonic Family, joining Eastern Star while she and her husband, Ben, a Master Mason, 
lived in Ridgecrest, holding offices of Worthy Matron there in 1970, and in Big Bear in 
1991. Shirley served Eastern Star GRAND CHAPTER as Grand Representative in 1988-89 She 
was also active in the Big Bear Lake Nile Club - Daughters of the Nile serving as president 
four years, 1993-94 and 1995-98. Church affiliations included the Presbyterian Church of 
Big Bear for many years before joining St. Joseph's Catholic Church of Big Bear where she 
became an active member and supporter.

Shirley was born in a small mining town, Bonanza, Colorado to Elsie and Melvin Wood on 
April 24, 1923. She moved with her family, sister and parents, at a young age to Bakersfield, 
Calif. where she attended school and graduated from Bakersfield High School. While growing 
up she was a "cowgirl" helping her daddy ''run cattle" in Kern County. During World War II 
she married Luther Ben Hirons and while Ben served in the Navy, Shirley took on the role of 
"Rosy the Riveter." After the war Shirley and Ben moved to Ridgecrest where they both worked 
at China Lake. Ben was an electrician and Shiriey worked for 22 years with the school district. 
In 1974 the Hirons moved to Big Bear. Ben Hirons died in 1988 leaving Shirley to become the 
community activist that we have known and loved.

Two brothers-in-law, Don Hirons of Creston, Calif., and James Hirons of Atascadero, Calif., 
survive Shirley.  

Memorial services for Shirley will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Wednesday, 
Jan. 19, 2005, at 10 a.m. Big Bear Mortuary, Directors.