Dec. 8, 1936 – Aug. 17, 2022
Our beloved, darling, wonderful mother, grandmother, and friend Shirley Ann Pyle Kelly passed away peacefully in her home on Aug. 17, 2022. She was born Dec. 8, 1936, in Laredo, Missouri, to Truman D and Iris Feller Pyle. She was reared in Missouri until age 8 when she came to St George with her mother and sister Janet. Shirley was educated in St George and always had the Dixie spirit.
Following graduation, she moved to Las Vegas where she resided for most of the next 35 years. In Las Vegas, she was a floral designer and manager of Kings Flowers. She started a family floral business in 1972 and in 1985 she moved home to Dixie. At the time of her death, she and her son Hal were business partners in Patches of Iris and Violets Flower Shoppe in St George.
Shirley loved her children and grandchildren as she would say “more than life” or “2 4 too much”. She loved organizing and had great pride and love for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had many teaching and leadership positions – primary being one of the most frequent and dear to her heart. She was a district manager for Washington County Solid Waste for 15 years and was instrumental in creating Washington County Certified Landfill. She was the first female certified landfill manager in the United States and often said she loved that job from the first day to the last. She had many interests such as painting, decorating, needlepoint, and scrapbooking but most of all she loved working outside.
Shirley is survived by sister Janet (Duke) Terry, daughter Brenda Martinez, son Blair (Melinda) Hiatt, son Hal Hiatt, granddaughters Amber Sheffield, Tressa Hiatt, grandsons Trey Hiatt, JC Johnson, and Zachary Mountz, niece Michelle Ainscough, and nephew Kelly Terry. Her daily/weekly lunch date Janice Ence, her Dixie High classmates (whom she loved so dearly) and all her many friends as well as her cherished dogs, Rocky, Ella, and Calle, and the family bird Sugar. She always said her family was small but with so many good friends, they made up the difference.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her Dixie High classmates (whom she loved so dearly), and all her friends. Also, the love of her life Leon Brown. They were both just too young.
There will be a viewing at 9:30 a.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary followed by a service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27.
Family and friends unable to attend will be able to view the funeral service online. Click here to view the service. Guests also are invited to sign Shirley’s online guest book while watching the service.
Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to leave a memory on Shirley’s obituary page at www.spilsburymortuary.com.