Rex Myron Shirts

Rex Shirts died on 10 June 2019.  He was born in Duchesne, Utah in 1920.  He was the eldest of four children born to Bert Shirts and Ilda Mae Lance Shirts.  Only one sibling remains, Monte Shirts of South Jordan, Utah.  Rex lived 98 years,  8 months and 23 days.  Rex took some pride in his longevity and had ambitions to make it to 100.   He had an interesting life having had a great family, numerous friends, wonderful adventures, varied challenges and many successes.  He loved to talk about these experiences and many would attest to his story telling skills.  Times were tough as a child having lived through the Great Depression and Rex worked odd jobs to help support the family.  He lived in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho during these times and became proficient in mining and heavy equipment operation.  He was especially proud of his service in the CCC. During WW II he served in the US Navy mostly in the Northern Atlantic theater.  Stationed in the Northeastern USA, he managed to meet Elizabeth Harvey in Rhode Island.  After his honorable discharge as an Aviation Machinist Mate first class, he brought Betty to the wild West.  She came by train to Shoshone and was taken to Hailey.  They married on 29 December 1944.  They had three children, Joe who died in 2001, Karyn who died shortly after birth in 1948, and Steven who is 67 years old and resides in Twin Falls with his wife Robin. Rex seemed to have had command of so many skills and worked many jobs.  He was a miner, bartender, carpenter, dry wall contractor, ski lift operator on Bald Mountain in Ketchum, chief of maintenance at Moritz Community Hospital in Sun Valley just to name a few. He is survived by his son Steven and his daughter-in-law Robin, 6 grand children (5 by Steven and 1 by Joe). and 15 great grand children.  These families are dispersed living in Idaho, Utah, Washington, Nevada, Kentucky and Minnesota.  He was proud of this enlarging family and we of him. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 14, 2019 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Parke’s Magic Valley Funeral Home, 2551 Kimberly Rd. in Twin Falls.   Graveside services will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2019, at 11:00 A.M. at the Hailey Cemetery in Hailey, Idaho.