Tom Shirley was born on September 3, 1920 at home in Sapulpa, Oklahoma to Gracie Idella Berryhill and Houston Iluf Shirley. He graduated from University of Oklahoma at Norman in Chemical Engineering. He married Vera May Scheig on July 28, 1943 in San Antonio, Texas. They spent time in Mississippi and Alabama while Tom served honorably in the United States Army as a First Lieutenant from 1943 to 1946 . After the war they moved to Texas City, Texas where he worked as a chemical engineer and sang in the choir and served on the vestry at St. George's Episcopal church. He subsequently gained a Masters Degree in Chemistry from Tulsa University and was an environmental consultant in Austin, Texas. Kind and generous, he was devoted to his family and proud of his membership in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.

He was preceded in death by his wife Vera May and eldest son, Tom Edward, brothers Houston and James, and sisters Sue and Margaret . He is survived by sister-in-law Helen, daughter Carolyn and husband Ben, son Frank, daughter-in-law Linda, grandchildren Wendy, Amy, Tom Evan, Nathan, and Leslie, and great grandchildren Katryn, Jim, Kate, Luke, Rachel, Evelyn, Renee, and Karolyn.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. George's Episcopal Church, St. Hildegard's Community, or Hospice Austin. A Memorial Service will be held on March 31 at 4:00 at St. George's Episcopal Church, 4301 North IH 35 in Austin.