Howard L. Shirey

Howard L. Shirey

Howard was born in Des Moines, IA June 8, 1928, to George and Ruby Shirey. The family soon moved to Washington where Howard attended school in Edmonds, WA and married wife, Billie. After school, he worked at Todd Shipyard as a welder, drove logging trucks in CA, started his own excavating business in Alderwood Manor, worked at Moss Truck Sales in Seattle, WA, helped start Best Auto Parts in Lynnwood, WA and later became co-owner of Fitz Auto Parts foreign car and truck in Edmonds. While at Fitz he started the first motorcycle wrecking business and the first foreign stock car racing association. Later he started and ran Urban Auto Parts, an auto wrecking business on Highway 99, in Lynnwood.
His hobbies included flying, he was a licensed pilot and had owned several different aircrafts. In auto racing, he was a member of the Sky Valley Racing Association. As a car owner and builder, his cars won many awards and races. He was a member of the Eagles and Elks clubs as well as the Pilchuck and Edmonds yacht clubs and enjoyed fishing and hunting with friends. In retirement he was night watchmen for good friend, Bob, owner of Mosbrucker Excavating. He always lived life on his own terms and passed away at home on Memorial Day of natural causes at age 83.
He was preceded in death by his second wife, Virginia; brother, Fat (Clayton); and sister, Bonnie.
He is survived by his ex wife, Billie; and their four children, Donna Wilson, Rick Shirey, Mike Shirey and Gail Schimdt; eight grandchildren; and 15 great- grandchildren; along with his brothers, Skinny (Clinton) and Kenneth.
Howard requested no funeral services. There will be a gathering on June 11, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. for friends and family at his son Rick's home at 17027 Dubuque Rd., Snohomish, WA 98290.