Mr. Richard G. (Rickey) Shirley, a resident of Ozark, died Wednesday, April 4, 2018, in a Dothan hospital. He was 70.

The Celebration of Life service will be at 11 a.m. in the Flowers Center for the Performing Arts with Reverend Buddy Hood and Reverend Jim Cordes officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery, Arguta Community. Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, 5320 County Road 15, Ozark, AL 36360.

Mr. Shirley, son of the late Guy Shirley and Marie Golden Shirley, was a native of Greenville, Alabama and has lived in Ozark since 1973.  He was a graduate of Greenville High School and received both his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Music Education from Troy University. Mr. Shirley was retired after 28 years of employment from the Ozark City School System at Carroll High School as the Choral Music Teacher and was currently an adjunct professor of Music at Wallace College and Troy University Dothan. He was active in the production of several high school plays at Carroll High School for many years and at the time of his illness was working on “Bye Bye Birdie”. Mr. Shirley was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church where he served as Minister of Music. He was preceded in death by his sister, Cindy Bentley.

Surviving relatives include his wife of 48 years, Maurine Bryan Shirley, of Ozark; three daughters, Michelle Kelley, Stephanie Forrester (John), and Brenda Shirley, all of Ozark; a son, Shawn Shirley (Lisa), of Dothan; three grandchildren, Drew Kelley, Jackson Kelley and Madison Kelley; a brother, Scott Shirley (Helena), of Greenville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Jason Bentley, Chris Bentley, Paul Shirley, Greg Bryan, Greg Marshall, Tim Young, Robert Parsons and Greg Lester. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Andy Hughes, Bruce Carson, Mark Givens, Dr. Taylor Caffey, Bobby McCoy and Larry Hicks.

You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankstonfuneralhome.com