Ellen Brown Andrews Shirley

April 15, 1930 - June 20, 2020

SHIRLEY, Ellen Brown Andrews, 90, born in West Cobb died Saturday, June 20, 2020. There will be a visitation on June 28, 2020 at Mayes Ward Dobbins Marietta at 10:30am with a socially distanced service at 11:00am followed by her burial at 1:00pm at Green Lawn Cemetery in Roswell, Ga. She was preceded in death by her father Glenn Smith Brown, her mother Lottie Holland Brown, and her brothers George Owen Brown and Marvin Lane Brown. She graduated from McEachern High School as Miss McEachern and began some courses at West Georgia before leaving school to start her work career and marriage. Her work career spanned several years at Life of Georgia followed by several years and retirement at the ASCS( Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service office) of the US Department of Agriculture where she worked with local farmers helping them rotate, divide and apply for subsidies for their crops. Her first marriage to Russell Andrews ended in 1970 and produced two daughters, Jane Andrews Shaw (Bruce Shaw,Sr) and Patricia Andrews Prince (Dr. Robert Prince). During the next phase of Ellen’s life she was sent to open ASCS offices in not only Marietta but in Alpharetta and Fairburn. It was in Alpharetta that she met Ret. Col. Clarence H. Shirley, USAF, and his family. Ellen and Clarence began to have blended family holidays, birthdays and special events. It took them several years to decide to marry. When Ellen was 45 and Clarence was 59 she told Clarence that she would never marry a 60 year old man. On November 12, 1974, they flew to Las Vegas to be married just days before his 60th birthday on November 21. Ellen and Clarence proceeded to build 2 homes, travel, and enjoy a group of wonderful friends and a grand blended family. She was president of her garden club and attended church in Alpharetta and when they were at Hiawassee, Ga. she attended church there. She is survived by daughter’s Jane Andrews Shaw and Trish Andrews Prince (Dr. Robert Prince) and grandson’s Andrew Shaw, Patrick Shaw (Kefang), Bruce J. Shaw, Jr. (Jenny), Preston Prince (Hayley), granddaughter Elizabeth Prince Freels (Mike). Great grandchildren: William Prince, Ella Shaw, Amelia Shaw, Olin Shaw, Hagen Shaw, Ivan Freels, Levi Freels. Ellen is also survived by her blended family, son Gary Shirley (K’re), daughter’s Janice Shirley Gunter (Mike), Joyce Shirley Caldwell (Robert), daughter-in-law Suzanne Shirley (wife of deceased son James R. Shirley). Grandchildren: Sara Shirley Waymire (Jason), Laura Shirley, Jessica Shirley, Sandy Caldwell Hartnell, Leslie Caldwell Smith, Blake Shirley, Steven Shirley, Zach Gunter. Numerous great grandchildren. Donations in memory of Ellen B. Shirley can be made to Marietta First Baptist Church. www.mayeswarddobbins.com 770 428-1511