Shirley Egan

Shirley Peterson Egan was born on December 10th, 1926 in Springville, Utah. She was the youngest of four children born to Andrew G. Peterson and Maud Child. As a young girl she learned to love music, especially the frequent sound of her mother singing. Like many girls her age, Shirley took tap dancing and loved it! She sang and danced in several local venues and church events. She also frequently sang with her family in church programs. A bit of a “tomboy,” Shirley loved working with her father who owned several dairy cows. She became a member of the 4-H Club and won a number of Blue Ribbons showing her dad’s prize cows. She also loved being with her father at Kolob Lumber Yard, where he was the manager. She started working for him at the young age of 13 receiving a whopping 15 cents an hour!

While Shirley had many friends, her life revolved around her family. As a family the Peterson’s attended church events, high school games, church basketball games, and BYU games. They also loved and attended rodeos up and down the Wasatch Front. Girls softball was part of their summers for many years, and the Kolob Lumber-sponsored team won the Utah State Championship several times. Shirley loved being with the girls’ team and, although only 12 years old, was occasionally allowed to play second base as “Little Pete.”

At age 16, Shirley stayed the summer in Layton, Utah with her older sister Venita and Venita’s husband Harold. Shirley worked behind the soda counter at Kowley Drug Store. After graduating from high school in 1945, Shirley again moved in with Venita’s family and began work as a clerk typist at Hill Air Force Base. In November of 1946, while attending church in Layton she met a handsome young man who had just returned from serving in the United States Air Force. Her first date with Doyle C. Egan was December 12th and the two were married on March 26th, 1947. Their honeymoon was financed with $60-worth of dimes they had saved during their brief engagement.

Shirley’s life now revolved around her own family. Over the next ten years, she and Doyle welcomed five children into their home namely, Kathleen, Robert, Marilyn, Bradley and Debra. Not surprisingly, the Egan family participated in and were regular spectators at local school and church sporting events, which they always attended together. Shirley’s love for singing was complemented by Doyle’s beautiful tenor voice and family singing was part of growing up in the Egan household. Doyle pursued his dream of singing in the Tabernacle Choir and was accepted. Shirley followed a few years later after the older children could drive to church. She and Doyle spent two decades touring and singing with the world-famous choir, but what she loved most about the experience was “sitting at the feet of prophets every six months” in General Conference. After Doyle retired from work and they both retired from the Choir, they served a full-time mission at the London England Temple. Upon returning home they spent a few summers in McCall, Idaho and many delightful winters in Saint George, Utah, where they served as part-time ordinance workers in the Saint George Temple. They also worked half-days (9 holes) or full days (18 holes) pursuing together the sport they had come to love. During the summer months, despite offers from family and neighbors, Shirley still insisted on mowing her own lawn, even at age 93!

Shirley Peterson Egan passed away on January 15, 2021 in her home surrounded by her children. She is preceded in death by her dear husband, Doyle, her wonderful parents, all three of her siblings, an amazing grandson and a sweet great granddaughter,  all of whom welcomed her home.

She is survived by her five children and their spouses, 24 grandchildren, 74 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great- grandchild.

Due to the current pandemic, Shirley will be interred on January 20th, 2021, at Kaysville Cemetery following a short graveside service for the immediate family.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints General Missionary Fund.

Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.

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