Shirley Ann (Smith) Pickard, affectionately known as 'The Queen', was born June 18, 1946, to Squeak and Martha Smith. She was the first daughter, second of six children, and a lifelong resident of Mears, Michigan.

On November 11th, 1966, she married Gerald Pickard and they became loving parents to Stacey, Clint, and Heidi. They would go on to become even more loving grandparents to Elizabeth, Alexandra, Seth, Faith, Lily; and great-grandson, Kayden.

Shirley was a wild spirit of a woman who loved to read, sew, gamble, and gossip (and she was known to never turn down a cold Coors Light!) You may have seen her in the summers sitting at her little red cottage in Silver Lake, reading and tending to the flowers she planted around her porch. In the winter, you may have even kept your hands warm with a pair of wool mittens made out of sweaters from Goodwill that she would sew and sell at craft fairs all around Western Michigan.

Shirley leaves a big hole in the hearts of her immediate family; her brothers, Virgil (Gail) and Jerry (Rose); sons-in-law, Tim and Johnny; sister-in-law, Becky; brothers-in-law, Ted, John, Jim, and Brian; and her many adored nieces, nephews, and friends. She will be greatly missed forever.

Shirley was welcomed into the Happily Ever After on June 26th, 2024 by her son, Clint; her brothers, Donnie and Larry; her sister, Linda; and her best friend, Karen.

The next time there's a thunderstorm, know that it's not God bowling: the 6 of them are just having one hell of a party!

There will be a Celebration of Her Life at Johnson Square, in Mears, on Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. The family encourages you to come share your favorite Shirley Whirley-Bird stories and spread the love.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

www.beaconfh.com