Oct. 19, 1924 - Sep. 6, 2017

Shirley Vonn Veirs Foutz, 92, passed into her Heavenly home and into the arms of Jesus on September 6, 2017. She was born October 19, 1924 in Oklahoma City to parents RC and Elenora Veirs. Her siblings included brother RC Veirs, Jr. and sister Betty. The family attended First Lutheran Church then St. Luke's United Methodist Church. Shirley grew up in Oklahoma City, her city she loved so much, attending Culbertson Elementary School and Webster Junior High. She was a proud Central High School Cardinal and graduated with honors and leadership awards. She was an accomplished cellist and played her cello with the Oklahoma City Symphony under the direction of Victor Alessandro. She also played the piano beautifully. Shirley attended OCU on full scholarship as the newspaper and yearbook editor. At OCU, she was president of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. She graduated magna cum laude from OCU with a degree in Physics and later became a distinguished OCU Alumnus. OCU held a huge place in her heart. Upon graduation from college Shirley was an X-ray technician for Balyeat Asthma-Hay Fever Clinic where she met Bill Foutz, who became her husband in 1945. Shirley served as private secretary for the secretary-treasurer of Kerr-McGee Oil Industries and also as personal assistant to Senator Robert S. Kerr at Kerr-McGee. Shirley was a moderator for a television education program for two years. In 1953 daughter Sherri and in 1955 daughter Donna were added to the family. Shirley ventured into business with her Interiors by Shirlee commercial interior company and then became a realtor and homebuilder. She started her own commercial and industrial real estate business working with luxury apartment complexes, office buildings, warehouses and shopping centers. Shirley extended her professional career into the banking business by becoming the first woman to be elected to the board of directors of a bank in Oklahoma outside a banking family. She also served as a director of an Oklahoma City Savings and Loan. She was a member of many professional organizations among them the National Business and Professional Women's Association, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, past president of the Uptown Kiwanis Wives, past Central and State president of the Oklahoma Society of Engineers Auxiliary, American Association of University Women, National Association of Real Estate Brokers and PTA president at all levels of her daughters' education. She loved to ballroom dance and attend piano and cello concerts and the Philharmonic and Symphony. She was widely traveled - all 50 United States, Central and South America, Russia, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Africa, Asia and Europe. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of the Servant. Shirley valued her family above all and had such fun raising her daughters often using her seamstress talents to create matching outfits for herself and them. Her great joy became her grandchildren. She passed onto them her love for the Lord and her passion for learning and education. She sent each of them to Kanakuk Kamp and challenged each of them to accomplish at least a college education. She considered being Oklahoma's Mother of the Year one of her greatest honors. Shirley is survived by her daughters Sherri and husband David Boyd of OKC, Donna and husband Eric Sanson of Washington, DC; grandchildren (who affectionately knew her as "Grande") Adam and Beth Boyd of Dallas, Brady and Renee Boyd of San Diego, Connor Boyd of Jerusalem, Joe Sanson of Chicago, Dru and Brooks Walker of OKC, Peter Sanson of San Clemente, California, and Rachel Sanson of Dallas; great-grandchildren Arabelle Boyd and Lyndon Boyd of Dallas. She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, her grandson Timothy Eric Sanson, and her great granddaughter Sydney Elizabeth Boyd. The family's deepest appreciation for Shirley's wonderful care goes to Concordia Life Care Center, Oklahoma Hospice, and most especially, our angel on earth, Shantile Longan and her colleagues at Florence Night and Day Caregivers, who took care of Grande since 2010.A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Church of the Servant at 14343 N. MacArthur Boulevard on Saturday, September 9, at 10:30 a.m. Memorial contributions may be sent to Kanakuk Kamps, 1353 Lake Shore Dr., Branson, MO 65616