Katie Shirley

Katie Shirley had a handful of mottos by which she lived her brief, yet beautiful, life. Among them were

“Princesses have responsibilities and the first one is to "do good”; “Live, Laugh, and Love”; and “You can never love too much”. Each of these exemplifies how Katie chose to live her life each and every day. As a daughter, she was devoted and protective of her family; as a friend, she was loyal and compassionate; and as a person of the world, she always chose to be kind and generous, most especially with those who needed it the most. When she went to a favorite local diner with her parents, Katie worried about the older gentleman who always ate by himself, wanting to go and join him so he wouldn’t be lonely. When a classmate, one she didn’t even know, was obviously having a difficult time, she would join up with them in the hallway, introduce herself and walk with them to class.

Katie’s gentle and nurturing nature, as well as her sense of humor, was easy to see when she was with children, most especially when she was instructing her five year old cousin on the responsibilities of being a Princess, as she prepared her to take over the role she had held within the family for her eighteen years. Her generosity was apparent as a child, when she readily offered to share her new puppy with her cousins, who did not have, but desperately wanted, a dog of their own; and as a young woman, when she would stay up nearly all night to help a friend with a class project or to make another classmate a scrapbook, memorializing their happy times together.

When Katie’s parents asked her friends to offer one word or phrase that would describe ‘their’ Katie, each person came up with something unique, every one a lovely and accurate tribute to the caring, sensitive and thoughtful person Katie was. They alternately described her as “extroverted: outgoing and gregarious”, “radiant, bright with joy and hope. You couldn’t not be happy around her; she was always smiling, even when you knew she wasn’t in the best mood.” They remember her as “willing, always willing to do anything and up for everything”, “compassionate: I remember walking through the halls at (high) school and always knowing she would say “Hi” to me in the sweetest way you can imagine”. “It wasn’t enough for her to be happy herself if her friends were sad; she brought a little light everywhere she went”. “Silly, selfless, stubborn and sensational.” “Shining” (how many of us will ever be described as ‘shining’, really?).

Each word is electric in its energy, just like Katie. But these individual words, while heartfelt and thoughtful, are just that, individual, solitary. When these words are brought together, as in this attempt to bring forth this wonder of a girl, this indescribable young lady, they come alive, they become something greater than they are when set alone on the page. In the same way, those who knew Katie, and remember her in their hearts, became more alive by just having been touched by her presence, however briefly.
Written by Katie's Aunt Maureen

Letter Stephanie Shirley Read at Katie's Memorial Service on July 2, 2007

Dear Katie,
Before you were born your dad painted stars on the ceiling of your nursery. We made wishes on those stars, giving hopes and dreams for our child. Of course we hoped you would be healthy, beautiful, charming, graceful and witty, but we let our dreams go far beyond that.

We wished for you to be independent –even though your independence would also be a challenge.

We wished you to step into the world bravely, even though those steps would eventually take you out of the safety net of our home.

We hoped that you would choose your friends wisely-and were so grateful that you were always surrounded by others, who shared your sense of fun and adventure.

We hoped that you would love wholeheartedly your family, your friends and every little girl that showed “princess potential”

But most of all, our wish for are only child was that you would know that we loved you-even on the days we didn’t say it, in moments you didn’t believe it, in the times you didn’t want us to, and the times you didn’t want to love us back.

We hope that all the people who love you and are here to lend us their strength will wish upon a star tonight and see you wink back. Thank you Katie for making our wish come true.