Shirley was born on July 7, 1935 in the country near Mangum, Oklahoma to George and Gladys Shipley. She spent her early years in Mangum and Altus before her parents moved to Del City, OK. She graduated from Midwest City High School in 1952 and went to work for the Mid Del School System where she spent over 40 years working first as a secretary at the Midwest City High School and then at the Mid Del Administration Building in Personnel and handling attendance.

She married her cousin’s best friend Paul Wayne Nicholson who she helped him finish getting his degree from OU and become a Partner in an Oklahoma City CPA Firm.

She was a Founder and the first and only President of the Midwest City High School Museum and helped make it into one of the best High School Museums in the State.

She was in the first group of members inducted into the Midwest City High School Wall of Fame.

She was a long time member of Meadowood Baptist Church and worked as a volunteer in Mission Mid-Del and as a tutor for Whiz Kids.

She is survived by her husband Paul W. Nicholson, a daughter Lisa Rene Nicholson, a son Scott Nicholson, brothers Gary Don Shipley and Gerald Mack Shipley, and a sister Carol Lynn Shipley and several grand and great grandchildren. Predeceased in death by a son Todd Alan Nicholson and a sister Gayle Shipley Johnson.