Ardell Shirey

Ardell Daniel Shirey, 88, passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2023 at his home in Clearfield.

Known as “Shady” to most, Dad was born March 29, 1935 in the Philipsburg hospital, the son of the late Ai and Tressa (Beatty) Shirey, and spent his childhood in the town of Bald Hill.

Dad worked as a welder at the Shawville Power Plant, employed over 35 years until his retirement in 1993, and also serving as a union steward and assistant business manager for IBEW Local 1124. He was a member of a few fraternal groups, including a 60+ year member of the Clearfield Elks Lodge No. 540 and the Sons of the American Legion, and long-standing member of the Bee Hollow Hunting Club.

As a young father, raising a family of six kids “up on the hill” with his wife of 68 years, the late Joyce (Haney) Shirey, Dad was not too familiar with the term “spare time”. Always the ballplayer, Dad played the hot corner (that’s 3rd base for those unfamiliar!) better than most for the Clearfield Colts in the Mountain League Hardball League, and then later in the Old Town Fast Pitch Softball League. If needed, he could play shortstop and fill in as catcher without missing a beat. Also found time to fit in a weekly bowling league at the Clearfield Lanes.
He found great success as a baseball coach and manager in the 1960s/70s, managing his four sons and their teammates to four championships in seven years as Manager of Stratton Motors (Little League 1966/69) and the Elks (Senior Little League 1971/72). Of particular note in the 1969 LL season, Dad managed his Stratton Motors team to an 11-4 victory over arch-rival Harbison Walker managed by his Shawville buddies and co-workers Bob Frisco and Jim Walker in the first ever night game at Kurtz Field in Clearfield LL history. We’re sure there was no chirping going on at the power plant the next day!

So, what was our Dad’s typical day like back in those days? Well, started with a 7:00am shift welding boiler tubes and whatever else needed welded at the plant; home at 4:00pm for a quick dinner that Joyce always had waiting on the dining room table; then throw 3-4 boys into his Olds Vista Cruiser station wagon (what a ride that was!) for baseball practice or a game, if he didn’t have a ballgame of his own; quick stop at the Elks afterwards for a beer and to sign the book while we spent some of his quarters across the street for ice cream at Clearfield Dairy; then home to read the Progress, maybe catch the Pirates game on TV, and wait for Johnny Carson to come on. That’s just how it was back then…and it was great.

Dad was never much of a movie buff, unless it starred a guy named Elvis Presley, then he was all in. And speaking of movies, he did show his somewhat wicked “sense of humor” side when he thought it would be a good idea to take the family to a new movie that just came out while we were vacationing in Ocean City, MD. That movie was Jaws, and let’s just say, none of us ventured into the ocean past knee height the next day; thanks Dad!

Dad married his wife of 68 years, the late Joyce (Haney) Shirey, on October 9, 1954. He is survived by their six children: Gregory (Marion) Shirey of Indiana, Glenn (Patricia) Shirey of Bellefonte, Garry (Judy) Shirey of Curwensville, Guy (Patty) Shirey of Myrtle Beach, SC, Dana (Rob) Buchanan of Charlotte, NC, and Amy Jo (Brian) Collins of Clearfield; their 16 grandchildren, Brian (Michelle) Shirey, Laura Beth (George) Urban, Jason (Jacqueline) Shirey, Amanda (Jacob) Smith, Kristen (Ben) Lieb, Lindsay (Terry) Whalen, Kyle (Jessie) Shirey, Evan (Mina) Shirey, Eric (Jessica) Shirey, Colby (Zak) Campbell, Taylor Jordan (Brandon) Lee, Ethan Buchanan, Caitlyn Collins (Manny Megofna), Ashley Collins, Nicholas Collins, and Parker Collins; and their 21great grandchildren Kelsey, Kaylee Joyce, Connor, Shea, Harper, Isabelle, Logan, Quentin, Violet, Daniel, Luke, Jake, Beau, Jordy, Landon, Brooke, Lucas, Nicholas, Augusta, Jolene, and Jordyn; and sister, Maxine Waple of Clearfield; numerous nieces and nephews who always enjoyed a chat and a chuckle with their Uncle Ardell; and other extended family members.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family at a future date. Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery.
Beardsley Funeral Home and Crematory, Clearfield is in charge of the arrangements.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Pine Grove Cemetery, 12 Carbon Mine Road, Clearfield, PA 16830; or the Stoneville Cemetery Association, 1049 Creek Road, Clearfield, PA 16830.