William T. Shirley, 83, known as Tom and wife Naomi L. Shirley, 75, both went to be with our Lord on March 15, 2014. They are survived by Tom's sister Doris Nell Brown & family, pre-deceased by brother Barney V. Shirley & survived by sister in law Emily & family, their children Tommy & his wife Elaine, Troy & his wife Suzanne, daughter Melanie & her pre-deceased husband Rocky Davis, Ray & his wife Nancy Parks, pre-deceased by son Barney Shirley and grandchildren Shayne, TJ & Taylor Shirley, pre-deceased by Cody Davis, survived by Shannon & Blake Davis and Billie Ray, Katherine & Regis Parks.
Tom was born in Texas and moved to Florida as a child. He had a career as a Lieutenant in the Florida Game Commission for 30 years and retired in 1985.Tom & Naomi married in 1969 and lived loving and serving the causes of the Everglades with passion.
Both were dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and wetlands. They had a love of nature here and abroad together especially in the Amazon and Africa.Together they frequented Iquitos in the Amazon which was one of their favorite retreats and where he desired to catch the worlds greatest catfish.Naomi was born in Putnam County, WV and moved to Florida with Arthur and Verba Winkler settling in Hialeah. She worked at Silver Drugs where she met Tom. They combined families and had Barney in 1970. She became a nurse working at Cleveland Clinic until she retired.After raising a family in Miami they moved to Southwest Ranches where they were closer to the Glades spending years airboating and camping in the river of grass. Both supported the sportsman & many of their events & activities.Tom has received many honors and awards over the years for conservation causes. He was proud of his accomplishment as an author of "Everglades Patrol".He will always be known as a true Gladesman.Both were loved and will be missed much by all. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Florida Wildlife Federation.Visitation at Fred Hunter's Funeral Home, 2401 S. University Drive, Thursday 6:00 - 9:00 pm, funeral service Friday at 11:00 am, interment Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clewiston, FL
Tom was born in Texas and moved to Florida as a child. He had a career as a Lieutenant in the Florida Game Commission for 30 years and retired in 1985.Tom & Naomi married in 1969 and lived loving and serving the causes of the Everglades with passion.
Both were dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and wetlands. They had a love of nature here and abroad together especially in the Amazon and Africa.Together they frequented Iquitos in the Amazon which was one of their favorite retreats and where he desired to catch the worlds greatest catfish.Naomi was born in Putnam County, WV and moved to Florida with Arthur and Verba Winkler settling in Hialeah. She worked at Silver Drugs where she met Tom. They combined families and had Barney in 1970. She became a nurse working at Cleveland Clinic until she retired.After raising a family in Miami they moved to Southwest Ranches where they were closer to the Glades spending years airboating and camping in the river of grass. Both supported the sportsman & many of their events & activities.Tom has received many honors and awards over the years for conservation causes. He was proud of his accomplishment as an author of "Everglades Patrol".He will always be known as a true Gladesman.Both were loved and will be missed much by all. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Florida Wildlife Federation.Visitation at Fred Hunter's Funeral Home, 2401 S. University Drive, Thursday 6:00 - 9:00 pm, funeral service Friday at 11:00 am, interment Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clewiston, FL