Shirley Mae Briggs

A beautiful soul landed on earth Oct. 14, 1941 and took flight again on Oct. 21, 2025. Shirley Mae Briggs left this earth, her husband right beside her just as they had lived their lives together for 67 years.
Shirley Mae Nagy was born to Elmer and Mildred Nagy (nee Petke) in Detroit. Shirley left school at 16 to marry but as education was important to her, she returned to school after moving to Oscoda and obtained her GED.
Shirley married Fredrick Lee Briggs on May 23, 1958 in Dearborn. After marriage, she worked for Cunningham Drugstore soda fountain, Hudsons, and Prophet in Detroit. After moving to Utica she sold Park Lane jewelry.
After moving to Oscoda to help her mother run the Northern Traveler Motel she went to work as a bus driver and later custodian for Oscoda Area Schools. She spent many years transporting students on her Mikado run. In addition to picking up children, she was also known to pick up wounded or abandoned animals and one time came home with a labrador puppy that was alone on the road in the middle of the farm country that made up the bulk of her route. That puppy remained with her for his entire life. Shirley Mae retired from the school system in 1999.
Shirly Mae, as she was known to her family and friends, had an immense love of singing. She was one of the original members of the choir now known as the Huron Shores Chorus and the local Sweet Adelines choir. Singing was one of her favorite things but her greatest passion was taking care of animals. She was a fierce advocate of protecting and caring for all creatures from tiny spiders and mice to the many larger birds and wildlife she rehabbed for so many years, from the first blue jay with a broken wing to the many litters of raccoons and bunnies she raised for release, to the many dogs and cats she had. Her philosophy was animals before people and her family accepted and loved her for it.
Shirley was multi-faceted and talented. She was also known for her beautiful garden, cookies and candies at Christmas, and stained glass creations, among other crafts. She was also an avid collector of many things. She was generous but firm with those she loved.
Shirley leaves behind her husband, Freddy; her daughters, Laura Kruse of East Tawas and Tani Briggs-Dekett (Larry) of Lincoln; brothers, Roger Nagy of Georgia, Donald Nagy (Patti) of Texas and Ronald Nagy (Ester) of Utah; sister-in-law and lifelong friend, Penny Sepanksi (Larry) of South Lyon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Mildred Nagy; in laws, Harry and Martha Briggs; sister, Jan Nagy; and sisters-in-law, Joyce Nagy, Lois Dembinski, Carol Rozanski and Margaret Bickman.
To honor who Shirley Mae was, the family suggest any memorial contributions be directed to ARK of Rose City or any animal shelter you support. There are no services planned at this time but the family expects to have a memorial service sometime in the spring.