Funeral services for John Shirley, age 91 of Livingston, Texas will be held Tuesday February 1, 2011 at 10:00 AM in the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Livingston, with Bro. Don Goodwin officiating. Interment to follow in the Menard Chapel Cemetery in Schwab City, Texas. Visitation will be Monday, January 31, 2011 from 6 to 8 PM at the Cochran Funeral Home in Livingston.

John was born May 18, 1919 in Midway, Polk County, Texas, son of William Apperson Shirley and Nancy Jane ""Jennie"" Isaacks Shirley. He was called home Saturday afternoon, January 29, 2011. He was in Livingston Memorial Health Center ICU. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, Lavada Oliver Shirley; his parents; brothers Richard Eddie Shirley, William Henry Shirley, and Virgel Rudolph Shirley; sisters Agnes Lee Shirley Rankin, Bertie Mae Shirley Campbell, Edith Odessa Shirley McCarty and Betty Jo Shirley.

She is survived by daughter, Shirl Scott of Livingston; son, John W. Shirley and wife Bonnie of Livingston; grandson Chris Scott of Covington, Georgia; granddaughters Jennifer Shirley Vera and husband Nino of Mont Belvieu, Jessica Shirley Bertolio and husband Brent of Tyler; great grandsons Saturnino Vera of Mont Belvieu and Jonah Bertolio of Tyler. He has one surviving sister, Elsie Vaudine Shirley Platt; many nieces nephews and a whole host of family and friends.

Pallbearers will be Jimmy Ward, Clint Ward, Steve Loftin, Lucas Swinnea, Milton Thiel and Randy Bailey.

He served proudly in the Regimental Headquarters Company, 106th Infantry, 27th Division during World War II. Inducted September 23, 1941 and honorably discharged October 3, 1945. After a brief basic training, he and his buddies were shipped by train to the West Coast and departed by ship to Hawaii. He fought in the Marshall Islands, the Mariannas, Espiritu Santo Island in the New Hebrides, Saipan Island and Okinawa Shima. He was ready to ship to Japan when Japan surrendered.

Upon return stateside, he vowed to never work on Saturdays and never to let any woman tie him down. Well, first weekend home, his brother-in-law, Fred Campbell, got him a job on an oil rig and he worked not only that first Saturday, but lots of Saturdays and Sundays thereafter. He found the love of his life when the oilfield workers played fast pitch softball against other teams in the area. They used the vacant field that is in front of the house where he currently resides (of course there is now a brick house there). He was finally able to track down his wife' dad to ask for her hand in marriage. He and his wife explored the United States together both working the oil field and traveling in their RV. Army buddy reunions were the highlight of every summer since 1984. His grandchildren were often joyous participants in these events.

He ""settled down"" in Livingston in 1950 when he was hired as a field hand by Rancho Oil Company, an independent oil company out of Dallas, He worked his way up the ladder until at the time of his retirement from Rancho Oil on June 1, 1982 at the age of 63, he was field superintendent over most of Rancho Oil leases.

Mr. Shirley was an active member in all the churches he attended and was a true pillar of that community. Ace Assembly of God, First Assembly of Livingston and Beech Creek Assembly of God were all close to his heart. He served in just about every office there was to hold in these churches.

This past September, he and his daughter, Shirl, took a 4000 mile, two week trip to visit one of the last surviving members of the 106th. He had a great time and was go glad that he got to see Mr. Charlie Swaggard. Mr. Charlie passed away January 13, 2011 at the age of 96. Now that Mr. Shirley has passed, there is only one surviving member of the brave group of men.

He will be missed by a whole host of friends, family and acquaintances.

Cochran Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Please sign our online register at www.cochranfh.com