Ronald Brent Shirley, 85, of Crowley, passed away Friday, December 29, 2017 at the Waco Veteran’s Hospital.
Burial: 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at DFW National Cemetery in Dallas. If attending, please arrive at 2:00 p.m. in lane 2 at the front of the cemetery where you will be escorted to the ceremony site.
Memorial Service: 3:30 p.m. Sunday, January 14, 2018 at Tabernacle of David, 1320 Leighton Circle, Louisville, KY 40222
Ronald B. Shirley was born May 12, 1932. Also known as Brent to his family and Ben to many friends, passed into his final peaceful rest while Shabbat settled in Friday evening, December 29, 2017. He is remembered for his love of God, reflection of Yeshua (Jesus), and response to the Holy Spirit. Also, memories include child-like new adventures in every moment; playing, eating and visiting with friends (old and new) and family; and his joyful singing, dancing and tambourine tapping & shaking.
We love you, Daddy, our papa… remaining are daughters, Brenda Shirley LaTorre (husband, James LaTorre), Linda Carter (children, C.J. Carter, and Krista Lynn Young), and Janet Shirley Baucom. Also, survived by his loving sister, Sharon Heavener, and many dear in-laws, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and friends.
Please, if you desire, in lieu of flowers, send donations to Tabernacle of David at www.callofthebride.org and hit the yellow DONATE button. Please note on donations, “In memory of Ben Shirley.”
Lake Shore Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Place of Service: Dallas / Ft. Worth National Cemetery , 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy.; Dallas, TX 75211
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I’m so glad I was able to meet your Dad so long ago when Linda and I were in college and he was about to be off on an adventure to Israel. He wanted me to teach him how to make Japanese fried rice and I was not very good at it at the time. And then to remeet him again in MN. He was such a blessing to me both times. I know he was a great example to have raised such a wonderful daughter. God bless and keep Ron in heaven where he is dancing and rejoicing. God also be with his children and grandchildren who will surely miss him.
Uncle Brent was the world’s most wonderful uncle, but he really felt more like a dear friend. He always cared and spoke to you in that moment, and loved his family dearly. I felt very loved as a niece and it was always a thrill to have him come for a visit. He spoke the truth and didn’t mince words, but his messages were always full of love. He knew truths that others didn’t, and was a wealth of wisdom. I learned so much from him; I am a much better person having him in my life. I look so forward to seeing him again in Heaven, if I make it there, for I am sure that he will be there to greet me.
Brenda, Linda and Janet Dale and I are so sad to hear of your loss. Uncle Brents memory brings back many happy moments to us and he will be missed.
I can still hear his voice calling me to stop whatever shenanigans I had been into at that time. He never got angered and was allways calm.
We love you all and I wish Dales situation was improved so we could attend but know our prayers are with you.
Love
Greg & Dale Burc
We all love Brother Shirley. We enjoyed him everytime he came to Jacobs Well Church International here in Louisville, Ky. He was truly a blessing. Had a smile on his face everytime he came in. As I always tell people when you leave this present world to go to your real home (heaven) you are more alive.
We will miss him dearly. What a wonderful man, a loving father, great uncle, and Christian servant he was. Sorry for your loss. Very happy he has found eternal peace and joy. Love Barb and Joe Reynolds and Family.
I always enjoyed seeing Brother Ben at church and worshipping the Lord with Him. Rest in His presence.
Lisvet Spencer
Jacobs Well Church International
Louisville, Ky
God bless you, and comfort you with the wonderful memories you have. I know I really enjoyed the time I had with Ben. He was very inspiring and a real blessing to me. I will miss him.
No words to express the awesome times that I have had with Ben in israel from 1996-2006. I was very fortunate to be able to call him Abba as he was a spiritual dad to me! (And it helped alleviate the threat I posed to many of the single women who were after him. :)) Like so many others throughout the course of his 32 years in Jerusalem he immediately grabbed a hold of our hearts as his love for the lord moved our spirits…
Those close friends of mine from Jerusalem have sent their condolences to me knowing how close we were. Not only were we partners in ministry we were also neighbors living in the same building with our apartments side-by-side. Because he was the gatekeeper at the French school, when he was away I would do that same job. We always woke up at 5 AM to open the gate and would sit outside and chat a bit before we started our day. Every conversation was about the Lord and what God was doing with the people that were in our lives and in the ministry that he had for us each day. It was amazing!!!
After I left Israel and 2006 he still remained there for a short time and we would talk over the phone occasionally. After I left ISRAEL and 2006 he still remained there for a short time and we would talk over the phone occasionally. However this last couple of years as he returned to America he would call me regularly reading to me from Johnathan Cahns “book of mysteries” and singing to me awesome praise about the Lord!
Last summer he told me that Lord told him his time on this earth was short. I asked him if there was anything that he really wanted to do before he left this earth and he said yes I want to go to Johnathan Cahns congregation to meet him face to face and worship with him. So we did in August and we had an amazing adventure that I will remember the rest of my life! Thank you Lord!
I just lost another Jerusalem Friend where I had to speak at the memorial service yesterday. And another missionary friend just a month previously that was one of my closest friends… yet, this was my hardest loss because he really was like a dad to me, and loved me and admonished me…just like I would hope dad would do… So I will greatly miss Him and his daily calls, but I know I will see him one day and we will be able to praise our Lord together for eternity!
oh my God , so sad to hear that Ben the amazing man evangelizing with me in the old city of Jerusalem. i missed him and looked for him here in Israel. may his soul rest in peace i am sure that he is with the Lord dancing with his wonderful tamboreen. oh man what a lost for this world. he was truly a dear friend. love you man and going to miss you so much.
in addition i will say may the Lord comfort his family dearly and a lot. in Jesus name and may the Holly Spirit comfort and reveal the person of Christ as Ben had. miss you Ben .
I got to know Ben in Israel when I lived there and he became one of the best friends I ever had. He was such a wonderful person, he was kind and loving to all people and I felt like he became like a granddad to me and I love him so much and will always love him!
You will always be in my heart Ben.
Lots of love from your friend Anna.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ben on various occasions in Jerusalem together with Jeanine Navarro. I remember him as a very gentle and kind man with a zest for life and caring for others. May he rest in peace. I lived in Jerusalem for 40 years and now live up in the Western Galilee.