When you view the video tribute above you will find the video begins late due to technical difficulties. Shirley J. Posey, the loving wife and best friend of James N. Posey, loved to travel and on May 24th, 2010, left on her last and most important journey that took her to be in the presence of her Lord Jesus Christ who, through His own death, freed Shirley from the bondage of sin and made her life worth living. A memorial service celebrating the life of Shirley will be at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, 6789 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany, on Thursday May 27th, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. For those unable to attend the memorial service, there will be a family gathering and viewing Wednesday, May 26th, 2010, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mercer-Adams. Shirley had the gift of teaching and taught the 4Cers Sunday School Class at Bethany First Church for 28 years. She researched and wrote her own lessons, often spending up to 20 hours a week in preparation. She developed and taught a seminar for women entitled Feminique. Prior to teaching the 4Cers Class, she taught a class of young college age women. She was active in the Mary Miller Missionary Chapter where she gave the monthly devotionals. Shirley was a member of the Belles of Ireland Garden Club and with her green thumb enjoyed working in her flower beds. For many years she taught the 4-year olds in Vacation Bible School and grew daisies in her garden to take to the children each day. She was an adjunct professor at Southern Nazarene University where she pioneered the teaching of English As A Second Language, writing most of the materials used in her classes, and was member of Phi Beta Kappa. Shirley served on the Executive Board and as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Civic Music Association of Oklahoma City and on the Sunday School Ministries Board of Bethany First Church. She founded and led an Aging Parents Support Group to encourage and support those who were dealing with the issues relating to the caring for and assisting aging parents. She co-hosted a Bible study in her home for more than seven years and was co-chairperson of the Host and Hostess Committee for the Institute of Basic Life Principles during the years it was held at the Myriad in downtown Oklahoma City. Shirley applied herself to memorizing scripture and challenged others to do so, often rewarding those who did with dinner at a favorite restaurant. In addition to teaching, gardening, memorizing scripture, and hosting dozens upon dozens of baby and wedding showers, she loved to water ski, was an avid and dedicated walker, and was a very competitive tennis player. She enjoyed riding the trains in Europe, hiking in the mountains of Colorado, horseback riding, and shopping at North Park Mall in Dallas. She attended the University of Texas, received her BA Degree from OU, her MA Degree from SNU and taught at Northeast High School from 1957 to 1960. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, James, her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Drs. Roberta and Delbert Long of Fairhope, Alabama, her godgranddaughter, Wang Xin, who she introduced to Christ on the plane flying from Beijing to Shanghai, Xins husband, Sean, and their daughter, Joy (Shirleys namesake), her adopted daughters, Sue Read, Sherri Pat Rothwell and Paulette Kingston, as well as her adopted sisters, among whom are Lillie McWhinney, Sally Bowman, Roberta Petty, Edna Baker Westmoreland, Marie Coody and Jacquetta Eudaley. Thanks be to God for the caring, compassionate, incredible care and love given to Shirley by the staff of Concordia Life Care Community, Good Shepherd Hospice, Joan Dozier, for the volunteers who assisted in the feeding of Shirley each week, and for the ministry of the chaplains of Bethany First Church. In lieu of flowers (forgive us Linda), contributions may be made to the Shirley Joy Bell Posey Memorial Scholarship Fund, Southern Nazarene University, 6729 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK 73008.