Shirley Minor Spellmire

Shirley Minor Spellmire, born Shirley Alice Minor on January 17, 1936, passed away May 5, 2023 after a long illness. She was surrounded by family for the last weeks and months of her life.

Preceded in death by her parents Shirley and Alice Minor, brother Jim Minor, and sister Ceci Ginnett, Shirley is survived by her beloved husband and partner Ted Spellmire, daughters Kate Foley, Christine Foley, Colleen (John) Hilton, and Maureen (Steve) Feld, and her son Jim (Megan) Foley, brothers and sisters in-law Claire Spellmire, John Spellmire and Patty McCoy, Bill and Karen Spellmire, Chris and Vickie Spellmire, Mary Julie and Greg Shooner, Theresa Bain, Patty and Kim LaMothe, grandchildren Jennifer Hörst (Daniel James), Josh Yenne (Rachel LeRoy), Matthew Ryan, Sean (Haley) Ryan, Anthony (Venessa) Hilton, Liz (Vincent) Hoo, Rosalie (Nathaniel) Huntington, Steven (Kyong Hui) Love, Lisa (Tony) D’Adamo, Julie Feld, Michael Foley and John Foley, great grandchildren Ronan, Isaiah, Cameron, Keymari, Imani, Sydney, Daniel, Brandon, Mia, and Jeremiah, and many, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Anyone who got to talking with Shirley would soon find out that she was a lifelong resident of Columbus, that she graduated from Holy Family High School (Class of 1953), that she entered the convent (but it didn’t take), that she has five great kids and a wonderful husband, and that she went to ‘murder school’, the homicide investigation training at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Keep her talking and you’d likely hear some song, a story about the wild 70’s (a baby elephant in a bar?) her Scots-Irish heritage, and maybe even some stories about her cherished Mother and Daddy, or how her older brother and sister would take her swing dancing when she was 5. 

Shirley and Ted had an absolute love story. They would be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this June. And both of them loved every minute of their life together. Shirley also loved the English language. She loved to travel, but hated to fly. She was deeply committed to democracy and social justice. Shirley loved the zoo, and one of her favorite memories was of releasing a rehabilitated sparrowhawk to the wild. Ted and Shirley took in several rescue mastiffs, and the dogs held a special place in her heart.

Through her final illness, Ted and her children worked tirelessly to ensure Shirley was well cared for and supported both physically and emotionally. The family is so grateful to all the caregiving professionals at OSU Hospital, Mayfair Village Nursing Care Center, and Riverside Methodist Hospital for their compassion and dedication to their patients. Shirley will be missed by all, and remembered for her brilliant mind, quick wit, beautiful voice, and above all, love of fun and family.

Donations may be made in Shirley’s memory to The Nature Conservancy, the Columbus Zoo, and the ACLU.

Irish Wake will be held on Sunday, June 18, 2023 from 1-5 p.m. at the Shamrock Club, 60 W. Castle Road, Columbus, Ohio 43207.

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