Eugene Shirley

Eugene Shirley was born in Troy, Alabama, on December 11, 1944, to Lamar Shirley and Emma J. Shirley. He sadly passed away in East Hartford, Connecticut, on October 26, 2024.

At the age of five, Eugene and his family moved from Troy, Alabama to Gretna, Florida, where he grew up and was educated in the Florida public school system. He graduated from Carter Paramore High School on May 1, 1963.

Eugene had a passion for cooking and worked as a cook for Governor Kirk of Florida during his youth. He also served in the U.S. Army as a cook and earned a diploma in welding from Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

After moving to Connecticut, Eugene worked at Pratt & Whitney, where he ultimately retired as a purchasing engineer. He was passionate about education and contributed to the Pratt & Whitney training department, traveling to countries such as Israel, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, and England to teach in apprenticeship programs.

Music was another of Eugene Shirley's passions; he learned to play many different instruments throughout his life. Eugene had a positive impact on many lives and leaves behind numerous loved ones to cherish his memory.

His wife Rosa M. Shirley; sons, Michael Patterson, Brian Christon, Ron Shirley, and Michael Shirley; daughters, Veronica Yolanda Shirley Scott (Jerome), Tiffany Shirley, and Sherryl Shirley Jackson (Andrew); brothers, Lamar Shirley (deceased), Lacey Shirley (deceased), Benjamin Shirley (deceased), Rudolph Shirley (Margie), Rufus Shirley (Joyce), and Dave Shirley (Lydia); sisters, Mattie J. Shirley-Atwater (deceased), Ruby Lilly (deceased), Patricia Solomon, and Emma Mathis. He also leaves behind a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as friends and neighbors.

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