Shirley Jean McGonigle

Shirley Jean McGonigle of Powell, Ohio age 83 while surrounded by all her children and husband, gained her angel wings to go home to our Father in Heaven on April 18, 2023. Shirley, or as she was also affectionately called “Shelby Jean, Tiger Rayburn or Virginia,” was born on July 27, 1939 in Shaw, Mississippi. Shirley was preceded in death by her beloved sons, Stephen W. & Craig M. McGonigle, parents James MacDonald Rayburn and Minnie Lott Rayburn, her sister Joyce Mae Rayburn, brother James Rayburn, mother and father-in-law Louise and Elwood McGonigle. Shirley also dearly loved her departed fur babies; April her dog and Kirby her Cat. Shirley is survived by her adoring husband of 66 years, Patrick W. McGonigle, her children; Deborah (Paul) Gabriel, Powell, OH, Michael McGonigle, Grove City, OH, Donna (Russell) Harris, Atlanta, GA, Kimberly (Tom) Straub, Traverse City, MI, Kevin (Debbie) McGonigle, Hiwasee, GA and Trisha (Kevin) Neal, Cumming, GA, sister Hazel Rayburn Slade, Bay St Louis, MS and her Missouri siblings, Pat Rayburn Sanders and Mike Rayburn, Sisters-in-Law, Mary Reinhard, Ann (Gene) Van Hoose and Martha (Keith) Salyer. In addition, she was blessed and is survived by 23 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Shirley often shared memories about growing up in Mississippi on a farm picking cotton with her brother and sister. She lived in Greenville, Mississippi until age 12 when Shirley’s parents relocated to Columbus, OH. Shirley began her “northern exposure” by first attending Junior High School and then Central High School. With her strong southern accent I feel sure they didn’t know what hit them! This new chapter in her life introduced her to lifelong best friends; Sylvia, Bobbi, and Helen. She truly loved and cherished these friendships her whole life. It was during this time that she also met the love of her life Patrick. When after having been told by her parents that they were moving back to Mississippi, Patrick asked her to marry him and they ran off to Indiana to get married. Shirley’s hobbies were many; she loved dancing, concerts especially James Taylor, throwing parties, cooking and baking for her family and travel. Traveling was probably her favorite hobby. Ocean Cruises, traveling to different parts of the United States, countless vacations to Hilton Head Island, SC and the many trips to Europe. Shirley loved every new adventure and especially the vacations that were spent with her children and grandchildren. Mom was known for her infamous cooking especially her Pecan Pie, Million Dollar Fudge, and her homemade noodles, lovingly referred to as Nana’s Noodles. Shirley was a Wife, a Mom, a Grandmother and a Great-Grandmother, but to everyone she was just Nana. The grandchildren’s friends who met her immediately loved her and she became an instant Nana to them too. That is who she was, just pure love for everyone she met. Shirley was so proud of her children and the people they became. She loved watching her family grow through marriages, loving each new daughter or son-in-law like her own. Her legacy can be summed up in one word, Love. She loved God, her husband, children, their spouses, her in-laws, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends old and new. Shirley was a Christian and a member of St Joan of Arc Catholic Church. She will be interred at Resurrection Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio, next to her Sons. Visitation will be held at Rutherford Funeral Home, Powell, OH on May 3, 2023 from 4-7pm. A mass of Christian burial will be held on May 4, 2023 at 11:00 am at St. Joan of Arc Church in Powell, OH. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Ohio, Mid-Ohio Food Bank, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church or any charity of your choosing. https://act.alz.org/ https://mofc.org/ https://stjoanofarcpowell.org/

Shirley Jean McGonigle

July 27, 1939 - April 18, 2023