Robert Shirey M.D.

Robert Wells Shirey, M.D., passed away at his home in Hillsboro on Tuesday, September 26. Dr. Shirey was born on September 7, 1915, in LouAnn, Arkansas, to LouAnn Wells Shirey and Robert Leroy Shirey. A graduate of Camden High School and Hendrix College in Arkansas, he completed his education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, receiving three degrees including Doctor of Medicine in 1942. Upon graduation, he served as ship's surgeon in the Medical Corps of the U.S. Army in the Pacific. He continued his service for several years in various Army hospitals receiving special commendations for life saving and rising to the rank of Major. On June 13, 1940, he was united in marriage to Mary Arline Smith of Camden, Arkansas. Upon release from the service in 1946, Dr. and Mrs. Shirey moved to Temple, TX, where he served as surgical resident at Scott and White Hospital for 3 years. In 1949, he and his family moved to Hillsboro, TX, where he began his practice at the Boyd Sanitarium. He later joined partners Dr. Charles Garrett, Dr. Richard Beskow, and Dr. Nellins Smith at the Hillsboro Clinic Hospital. Dr. Shirey practiced general medicine and surgery until retiring in 1985. During his career, he served as Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery at Hillsboro Clinic Hospital and West Community Hospital, was inducted into the American College of Surgeons, as well as, the International College of Surgeons. In 1974, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Dr. Shirey was committed to his community and served in several areas. He was a member and president of the Hillsboro School Board, a member and vice president of the Texas Board for Licensure of Vocational Nurses, and was a founding member of the Church Welfare Society of Hillsboro. Dr. Shirey was devoted to his faith. He was a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Hillsboro for over 50 years. He served numerous times on the church vestry and as warden of the church. He was a licensed lay reader of the Episcopal Church and served for 3 years on the Bishop of Dallas' Executive Committee. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Vessie Cawthon and Mabel Hughes; brother Alton Shirey; granddaughter Kay Maass Bailey; and grandson Robert Charles Maass. He is survived by his wife Arline Shirey of Hillsboro; his daughter Mary Ann Maass and husband, James of Bynum; his granddaughter Nancy Boden and husband Dave of Weatherford; and three great-grandsons Josh Birdwell, Marshall Bailey, and Matthew Boden. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 200 N. Abbott Street, Hillsboro, TX, 76645, the Alzheimer's Association, 7610 N. Stemmons Suite 600, Dallas, TX, 75427-4228 or to the American Heart Association, P. O. Box 15186, Austin, TX 78761.