Toni Trahan Shirley

A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Toni Trahan Shirley, 76, of Bossier City, Louisiana, will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana, at 5:00 p.m. A visitation will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. until the time of service. Officiating the service will be Brother Tommy Patton.

Toni Trahan Shirley was born on November 6, 1947, to Albert Joseph Trahan Jr. and Ruby Clause Trahan, in Carencro, Louisiana, and passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2023, in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Toni worked for the Federal Government for 38 years. She started her career at Barksdale Air Force Base and retired as the Assistant Chief of Human Resources of the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in 2007. She was highly regarded and received many outstanding performance awards during her career. She retired due to medical reasons that resulted in her being a dialysis patient for 20 years. She was quite an inspiration to many people because of the positive attitude she maintained during the many medical setbacks she faced.

Toni loved visiting the beach when she could and keeping up with the lives of her family, friends, and former coworkers. She enjoyed playing Words With Friends and her Thursday outings with her buddy Marilyn. She knew her way around the kitchen and was often found dancing around to her Cajun music while making the roux for her famous gumbo. There was absolutely nothing more important to her than her family. She was a devoted wife to her high school sweetheart Bill. She was the biggest fan and supporter of her children and their spouses; however, nothing was more precious to her than her four grandchildren. The sole reason she fought so hard for so long was so her grandchildren would know her. She loved attending or hearing about all of their many sporting events and special activities. She loved with all her heart, and she will be deeply missed by the many people whose hearts and souls she touched throughout the course of her life.

Toni Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Albert Trahan Jr. and Ruby and Edward “Buddie” Trahan; siblings, Albert Trahan III, Kenneth  Trahan and  Judy Trahan. Left to cherish her memory is her loving spouse of 57 years Bill Shirley; son, Matthew Shirley and wife, Jennifer; daughter, Tiffany Timms and husband, Michael; grandchildren, Landon and Leah, who called her Gramma and Madison and Tanner who called her Mimzy; brother, Edward John Trahan Jr. and wife, Mia; sister, Debbie Wells; sisters-in-law, Linda Hargrave and Dawn Menard, along with many treasured nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends she thought of as family.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105, or any charity of your choice.