Marjorie Shirra

Marjorie Faye Shirra
May 3, 1932 - August 26, 2025

Our beloved Mother, Marjorie Faye Shirra, 93, passed away on August 26, 2025, at her daughter’s home in North Ogden, Utah. She was born May 3, 1932, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, the youngest daughter of Duncan McLennan Fowler, and Doris Edith Round. She graduated from High School in Queensland, Australia, and at seventeen apprenticed as a milliner to become a successful Ladies Hat Designer.

Faye joined the L.D.S. church in 1950, where she met her future husband, Graham F. Shirra, and they were married on November 23, 1951. Later they emigrated to Canada to be sealed in the Canadian Cardston Temple on May 13, 1953. She had a successful Millinery business in Canada until she and Graham and their small family immigrated to Utah in 1957.

In 1961, she Founded Arts International, an organization for women which still meets regularly today. In 1963, she was a finalist in the Mrs. Utah Contest for Mrs. America. She enjoyed doing volunteer work, and served with the Weber County Mental Health Association, and the March of Dimes, in 1970. She became Executive Director for the March of Dimes and received special recognition from the National Foundation.

Faye graduated from Weber State University in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. During this period, she was also the Northern Utah Distributor for All-Grain Mills, with thirty dealers. She held many demonstrations at State and County fairs, lecturing on Nutrition and Health. After receiving her degree, she worked for the Ogden Family Support Center, helping abused women.

In 1978, Faye became a realtor and received membership in the Board’s Million Dollar Club. She enjoyed cooking and won several National recipe contests. She was featured in the Ogden Standard Examiners Horizons, showing her many Australian Deserts, and she also had an article of her demonstrations in “The Art of Ladies Hat making”. Her hobbies have included Genealogy, knitting, piano playing, cake decorating, dressmaking and millinery. She also loved to read, water ski, fish, square dance, and travel. In the year 2002, after two years of study, she received certification as a handwriting analyst, from the International Graph analysis Society, Chicago college.

Faye had a strong testimony of her Savior Jesus Christ. She was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served in many church positions such as Primary President, Organist and teacher. She was also a Stake missionary in the Weber Heights Stake and later in life served a mission at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City with her husband, Graham.

Faye’s family was the joy of her life. She loved her family and loved to be with them. She is survived by four children, Diane Miskin (Bob), Brad Shirra (Sue), Vanessa Longfellow (Dave) and Julia Cole (Jeff). She is preceded in death by her husband Graham, son Michael Shirra (Stacey), daughter Edith Faye, grandsons Blake Miskin, Brandon Miskin, Garrett Cole, a granddaughter Tiffiny Shirra and her sister Marion Joyce Lewis.

Graveside service will be held on Friday August 29, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Ben Lomond Cemetery, 526 E. 2800 N., North Ogden, Utah.

Services entrusted in Myers Mortuary Brigham City Utah.