Shirley Ruth Swift
February 17, 1925 - January 7, 2007

Shirley Warnock Swift was a very special woman who dedicated her life to her family and good friends. Always caring and thoughtful, she found great happiness in the simple pleasures in life. Shirley was there for anyone at anytime, not because she had to be, but because she wanted to share fully in the lives of the people she loved.

1925 found the country right in the middle of the Roaring Twenties. For those living in the big cities, it was a time of flappers and speakeasies, while those living in small towns focused on hard work and raising families. For Stanley James "Mickey" Warnock and his wife, Ruth (Beaty), they knew both sides of these spectrums. Mickey was born and raised in the growing metropolis of Chicago, while Ruth was born in Paducah, Kentucky, and raised in Chicago. After marrying, the couple came to live in Muskegon, Michigan, near Mickey's brother and it was here that they would raise their family. On February 17, 1925, Mickey and Ruth welcomed the birth of their first child, a daughter they named Shirley. She was later joined by two brothers, Stanley and Ray, who completed the Warnock family.

To support their family, Mickey owned and operated a gas station and later would work at Norge, while Ruth was a homemaker and very involved with the Red Cross. While their children were growing up, the family took many trips back to Chicago, which sparked a lifelong passion for traveling in Shirley. Shirley received her education in the Glendale and Lindberg schools and graduated from Muskegon Heights High School. Some time later, Shirley married and had four wonderful children: Sue, Debby, Kelly and Alan. Shirley and her husband would make the monumental step of owning and operating Fruitport Foods. For 5 years, many long hours were spent developing and working the business. It was then sold to another party and they then moved to Muskegon Heights. The couple would divorce in the mid 60's but Shirley would continue to raise her children. Over the years, she was employed by a few different companies, including Norge, Aero Manufacturing and Anaconda, and waitressed at Club 87, The Nighthawk, and VFW #3195 for many years.

True to her passion, Shirley enjoyed traveling all her life. She took a truly unforgettable trip to Okinawa to visit her brother, Stanley, who made the military his career. Shirley was so pampered and doted on there by everyone, she felt like a queen. She also enjoyed traveling with her lady friends, sometimes just around town and other times around the country. In fact, Shirley took a three-month trip with one of her friends, and they traversed the perimeter of the U.S. in a minivan (Shirley did most of the driving). Back at home, Shirley got together every Friday night with her friends to play cards. When her travels took her to northern Illinois to visit extended family, they also enjoyed playing cards. Shirley enjoyed watching some television, especially if it were ice-skating, dancing, gymnastics or Lawrence Welk. Shirley enjoyed being by the water, watching the boats and listening to the waves come in. If the Muskegon Chronicle did then as they do now in publishing estimated times of arrival of freighters coming in to port, Shirley would have made her way to the channel to see them every time. Shirley was a life member of VFW Post #3195 Auxiliary and volunteered many hours there.

Later in life, Shirley developed dementia, at which time her daughters encouraged her not to drive anymore. She eventually went to live at the McAuley Place, where she received the excellent care needed for her illness for the last two years. It seems for about the last eight months she has been basically eating only chocolate ice cream ( something every kid would love to do) and Boost, the nutritional drink. Shirley was quiet in nature and perhaps soft spoken, though when she had something to say it was usually "Oh for Pete's sake." Her most defining trait was her tender heart that overflowed with compassion for everyone around her. She will be deeply missed.

Shirley Warnock Swift, age 81, died Sunday, January 7, 2007. She is survived by her daughters, Sue (Dave) Church of Fruitport, Debby Black of Muskegon, a son, Kelly Swift of Norton Shores;; 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; brother, Stanley (Misako) Warnock of Okinawa; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Alan Swift, brother, Ray Warnock and her granddaughter, Sandi Cook. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, January 10, at 1:00 p.m. at Clock Chapel - Fruitport with Rev. Scott Church officiating. Friends and relatives may visit with Shirley's family on Wednesday, 1 hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Fruitport. Memorial contributions may be made to McAuley Place, Heartland Hospice or VFW Post #3195. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or sign the online guestbook.

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