Shirley Joan McGinnis, 91, passed away peacefully at home on June 20, 2026 following a ruptured Aorta as the natural closure to a long and full life. She was surrounded by the family she loved so deeply.

Born on December 10, 1934 in Trent, Lane County, Oregon to Paul Henry and Pearl (Young) Forrey. Shirley grew up in Homedale, Idaho in a large, lively household as the 4th child of 11 children.

She married Albert James McGinnis (1931-2017) on November 19, 1950 in Winnemucca, Humboldt, Nevada at age 15. She met Al at one of the weekly Saturday night dances in Homedale Idaho and after 3 months of dating they got married.
Al was not a member of the church but was soon baptized. After 7 years he was truly converted. They were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on 2 Apr 1957. Shirley was PG with child #3 at the time taking their 2 little girls with them to make a forever family. Together they raised four children (Sandra, Christy, Kenneth, Paul).

As a Young family Shirley and Al built their own house in The Dalles Oregon using scrap wood thrown away at the Job site. Shirley watched the kids during the day and then had a job working at the local drive-in Movie Theater at night after Al would get home from work. The kids loved going to her work to watch movies and get all the popcorn and soda they wanted. After a few years in The Dalles they moved to Alaska and then to Kirkland, Washington where she got a job at JCPenney. She loved that job, was promoted to manager and worked there for many years until she retired. After she retired they moved out into the country to Duvall, Washington.

Shirley was a lifelong and devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many capacities: Primary President, Young Women’s Counselor working with the Mia Maids and Laurels, Seminary Teacher and Gospel Doctrine Teacher. She loved to read and learn about many things reading the Complete Britannia Encyclopedia set that she purchased. She was proud to complete her High School GED and some College Credits at Bellevue Community College. She has lived in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Arizona, Tennessee and Utah. Shirley was known for her great strength and optimism, friendly personality, and for being full of laughter and joy and she always had a song to sing in an answer to any question.

After retirement Shirley and Al drove their motorhome all over the continental United States and even drove to Matzitlan, Mexico and stayed there for 6 months. They loved being Snowbirds living in Duvall, Washington in their Log Cabin on 2 ½ acres in the summer and in the winter living in their home in Sun City West Arizona. She also had more time to quilt. She loved making quilts, tying baby quilts and bedspreads for family and friends.

Shirley’s greatest joy and proudest achievement was her role as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her incredible legacy lives on through her four children and their spouses: Sandra Jean (Roger Schultz), Christy Joan (Steven Downing), Kenneth James McGinnis (Diane Dorff), and Paul Jay McGinnis (Lynn Rawson). Her legacy includes 175 children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul (1991) and Pearl (2001); her beloved husband, Albert McGinnis; siblings Pearl Lorraine and her husband Desmond Call, Lora and her husband Austin Montague, Ruth and her first husband Nolan Christensen and her second husband Vernon Edstrom, Vicky Forrey, Sister-in-Law Jeannine Stevens Forrey, Brother-in-laws Ed Banker, Ward Miller and Gary Harmon, two grandchildren, Rochelle Schultz Bassett and Zack McGinnis, and 2 Great Grandsons Mathew Weekes and Eric Case.

She is survived by her remaining siblings; Sherwood Forrey and his wife Shirlene Phipps Forrey, Paul Forrey, Donna Harmon, Carol Banker, Stephen Forrey and his wife Maribeth Froelich Forrey, and Julia and her husband Warren Caudle.

A private family celebration of Shirley’s life will be held at a later date in Salt Lake City, Utah.