Michael James Shirley
October 25, 1941 - August 1, 2023
Boise, Idaho - Michael James Shirley (81), proud husband, father, grandfather, successful businessman, and resident of Boise, Idaho, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2023, with his family by his side.
Born October 25, 1941 in Flagstaff, Arizona to James Watson Shirley and Lorraine Thomson Shirley, Mike lived his rambunctious young life on the rim of the Grand Canyon while his dad managed the nearby general store and his mom taught at the local school. Here he learned the art of business negotiation, trading away his PB&J sandwiches to his school buddies from the Navajo Nation for his preferred enchiladas.
Mike served four years in the Air Force, with a notable visit to McGuire AFB in New Jersey, where he first glimpsed his future wife. He knew immediately he was in love, loudly proclaiming to everyone within earshot, "I am going to marry that woman." And he did, marrying Gloria Marie Bruni on August 20, 1966.
With help from the GI Bill, Mike rounded out his Business degree from NAU in Flagstaff with an MBA from University of Arizona in Tucson, earning the Wall Street Journal's Outstanding Business Student Award along the way. Son Brian came along to join the family for the move to Boise, where Mike had been hired by Morrison Knudsen as the Company's first MBA. Daughter Cindy came along quickly thereafter. Mike's career thrived, soon becoming the youngest VP in MK history.
Mike's love of skiing led to a second career as President and General Manager of Bogus Basin, helping stabilize an operation that was repeatedly in the red. Mike had the insight that it was time to make skiing affordable to all again. His experiment slashing season pass prices to $199 was carefully watched by the whole ski industry. It was a stunning success, setting Bogus Basin on a path to prosperity that continues today. Warren Miller, Ski Magazine, and the National Ski Area Association repeatedly honored Mike as the father of affordable skiing, and multiple ski areas have followed suit with his pricing model.
Mike freely gave his time to anyone who needed career advice and will be fondly remembered as an incredible mentor. He also gave his time to a staggering number of community institutions. These included board leadership positions at Blue Cross of Idaho, the Boise Philharmonic, the Boise Art Museum, Junior Achievement, and the Discovery Center of Idaho. Mike's expertise left all operations in better financial shape and with a more focused sense of mission.
Mike's true love, however, was spending time with family and friends, most of all with his wife Gloria. He also loved bragging about the achievements of his children and grandchildren, despite his own humble nature. He loved fast cars, road trips, nearly every variety of music, sudoku, and crosswords (always done in pen). Most of all, he loved to laugh, and had a way of pulling all around him into his good humor.
His happiest times though, were usually over a plate of homemade pasta with plenty of red wine, surrounded by family, laughing over life's little quirks, and then opining loudly on the political issue of the moment. Mike's ability to concisely and hilariously sum up a ridiculous situation in five words or less made him a hero to his grandchildren, all of whom are now armed with a war chest of "The best Mike Shirley sayings ever."
Mike was a lion of a man, who did more for the town, multiple organizations, an untold number of friends, and most of all his family, than can ever be recounted. He will not be soon forgotten.
Mike Shirley is survived by Gloria Shirley, his wife of almost 57 years, sister Marilyn Westercamp of Kingman, Arizona, son Brian (Linda) Shirley and daughter Cindy (Don) Copple, and grandchildren Zane Lujack, Luke Shirley, Sophia Copple, and Brody Copple. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.
True to his humble spirit, Mike requested no formal ceremony upon his passing. A celebration of life will occur with details to be determined.
To leave the family condolences please visit www.bowmanfuneral.com 208-853-3131