Shirley and her brother Charles were raised in Castell, Texas and the family attended St. John Lutheran Church in Castell where she was confirmed. She graduated from Llano High School in 1967 and married her longtime sweetheart Don C. Evers in 1969. They lived in Dallas, Texas for several years before returning to Llano where they made their home on Elm Creek and the Llano River in Castell. Don passed away in 2009.

During the 1970's Shirley worked for the Llano Head Start Program, a job she always recalled affectionately due to her love of children, and she never forgot a one of 'my little boys and girls' as she often referred to them. She later went to work at the Llano County Clerk's Office where she retired as Deputy Clerk after 24 years.

In 2012 Shirley married Arthur J. Patterson. They lived on the ranch in Castell and she always enjoyed their cows and calves. When the weather was agreeable, she looked forward to her and Art's evening rides across Elm Creek and along the Llano River road in their golf cart to enjoy the serenity and peacefulness of the countryside. They attended the Llano Cowboy Church of which they are members, and Shirley was currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Castell School & Community Center.

Shirley took great pleasure in the simple things in life. Besides her love for her God and church and her devoted husband Art, she loved the beauty of flowers, the simple wonders of nature, history and genealogy, country music and opries, her class reunions, antiquing, windmills of all shapes and sizes, and her doxie 'fur babies' Gretchen and Heide and Oscar and Sophiean who were all a very important part of her family.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Norman and Emily Leifeste Birk.

She is survived by her husband Arthur Patterson, brother Charles Birk, aunt Arlene Leifeste Eathorne Moore, nephew John 'Bud' Jenkins, niece Joni Jenkins Farr, niece Kristin Patterson Drewniok, Jerry Don Moss, Joyce Sommerfeld Lucas, Jean Keese Renfro, Jane Keese Randolph, Dawn Jordan, Sabra Randolph and numerous other cherished cousins, loved ones and friends.

Visitation was at 1:00 pm Monday, January 6, 2025, at the Llano Cowboy Church on Highway 29 followed by a funeral service at 2:00 pm Monday and graveside burial at the Evers Family Cemetery on CR 104.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Llano Cowboy Church 7535 TX Highway 29, Llano, Texas 78643.