Margaret Etta Shirts

Nampa - Margaret Etta Shirts, 92 passed away peacefully surround by her loving family on Friday, March 17, 2023. It seems appropriate this sweet Irish lady returned home on St. Patrick's Day. She was born December 23, 1930, in Dillon, Montana, the first-born child of Forest Ace and Bertha Riley. She would be the oldest of 13 children. She was raised mostly around Argenta, Dillon and Butte areas. (She was a mountain girl and loved living in them.) While living in Argenta, she attended a one room schoolhouse. She also lived in Boise and Hailey, Idaho.

She met the love of her life when she met Ralph Shirts in Hailey, Idaho. They married Feb. 8, 1947, in Elko, Nevada. They later had their marriage solemnized for all time and eternity, October 14, 1958, in the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were blessed with seven children.

She followed Ralph wherever his work would take him, from Montana, Idaho, California to Nevada.

She was very active in her church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved being in the Nampa 9th Ward where she served faithfully in many different callings. She was an avid genealogist, and she did tons of service, quietly with a willing heart. She taught her children to serve the Lord.

She was a homemaker and a lab and x-ray tech for Blaine County Hospital in Hailey, Idaho. When Mom and Dad moved to Nampa in 1976, she worked for a doctor's office in Boise. Later she worked for Hewlett Packard for 20 years, before retiring. After a short season of retirement, she decided to work 7 more years at the Apple Core Pre-School. Everyone called her grandma; the children loved her and she loved seeing them every day.

She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers; four sisters; her husband, Ralph Shirts; a daughter Joann; and a grandson Richard. She is survived by her children: Peggy (Phil) Wilson of Vernal, UT, John (Leslie) Shirts of St. Maries, ID, KayLyn (Kenneth) Browning of Nampa, ID, Ralph (Sandi) Shirts of Spokane, WA, Lori (Ray) Bright of Nampa, ID, Larry (Glenna) Shirts of Nampa, ID; 24 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren, with three more little ones on the way; her brother, Dennis Riley; sisters, Tharon McDevitt and Gayle Parker; and many nieces and nephews.

We will miss her smile, her wisdom, her quotes, and letting everyone know they were loved. She is the true matriarch of our family. We have been so blessed by her life and example. We will never forget the love given to each of us and the example set for us.

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, March 25, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 3904 E Greenhurst Rd in Nampa. A viewing will be held from 6-8 PM, Friday, March 24 at Zeyer Funeral Chapel and again from at the Church from 10-10:45 AM, Saturday, prior to the services. Graveside services will be held at Kohlerlawn Cemetery, 76 6th St N in Nampa. Condolences may be expressed at ZeyerFuneralChapel.com. 208-467-7300