Shirley Marie Hansen Boyd Pratt Reynolds passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of August 24, 2019. She was 89. Shirley was born in Mapleton, Utah to Lester and Mable Hansen where she spent her youth with her parents, older brother, Paul, and younger sister, Phyllis. After graduating high school Shirley went on to college, and during the end of her second year she met and married John David Boyd. They had five children together and lived in Utah, Montana finally moving to Arizona in 1961.
After years as a stay-at-home Mom, Shirley went to work as a bank teller then as a secretary at a school at which time she also decided to finish her education and become a teacher. She attended night school while working full time and raising her five children. Shirley earned her teaching certificate in 1973 — the same year Shirley and John divorced and she made the move from Tempe to Chinle, AZ with her sons John and David for her first teaching opportunity.
After one year in Chinle, Shirley secured a permanent teaching job at Capps Elementary school in Heber, AZ where she taught various grades until she retired in the late 1990s. It was in Heber that Shirley met and married Don Pratt, who was a loving husband and a wonderful step-dad to her young son, David, and a fun Grandpa to her many grandchildren.
Shirley and Don traveled nearly every summer, but it was after she retired that the traveling really increased as their goal was to visit every state in the union, which they fell just short of accomplishing. They loved visiting family, friends and historical sites. Shirley was especially fond of their trip to Hershey, PA. They were married over 26 years when Don passed away in 2003.
Being alone did not stop Shirley from traveling. She and Don had bought a new van shortly before he passed away, so she set up that van with a bed, clothing storage areas, and even a travel potty. She made numerous trips to Utah and Wyoming to visit family and friends, and it was not unusual for Shirley to take a trip at a day’s notice.
In 2007 Shirley married Howard Reynolds in Payson, AZ, spending winters in Tonto Basin, and summers in the cool pines of Heber across the street from the school where she taught for nearly 30 years. In her later years the effects of Alzheimer’s disease made remembering the names of friends and family a struggle for her, but she handled her confusion with grace and good attitude, and was always content.
In April this year, Shirley moved to a senior living center in Las Vegas, NV near her eldest daughter, Janet. It was fun to see her face light up with joy to discover she had kids, as she was reminded with photos, daily visits from Janet, and occasionally her other children in AZ and UT. One thing the disease couldn’t steal away from her is knowing she loved her kids and that she was loved by them. She could still name all five in order until the day she passed.
Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Mable Hansen, sister Phyllis, brother Paul, husband Don Pratt and son John Boyd. She is survived by Janet Lopez, Las Vegas, NV, Pam (Gary) Kostelny, Mesa, AZ, Dan (Chris) Boyd, Chandler, AZ, David (Lori) Boyd, Provo, UT, 17 Grandchildren, 17 Great-Grandchildren, and 4 Great-Great-Grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, September 7, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery, 420 South 400 East, Spanish Fork, Utah. Family and friends may visit prior to the service from 10:00-10:45 a.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 187 S. Main Street, Spanish Fork, Utah.
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