Shirley Biles

Here’s a story, of a lovely lady…… Shirley Ann (Larson) Biles was born February 04, 1934, to Irving and Arlene (Tanner) Larson, in Benton City, WA. She was born under the sign of Aquarius. It was a New Moon phase on the date of her birth. Shirley was a younger sibling to older sisters Lois and Helen, and older sibling to brother Richard (Dick). The family lived on a small farm in the Benton City area until moving north to a bigger farm in Harrah located on the Yakama Indian Reservation. Shirley would often say that when living in Benton City and in the early days of the Harrah homestead, their family homes did not have indoor plumbing. If you are wondering if they had to use the old outhouse out back, the answer is yes. Shirley would also comment that the good old Sears catalog was always on hand in the outhouse; not for just browsing purposes but to be used as toilet paper. Shirley said that when the house was finally equipped with indoor plumbing, the family thought they were living high on the hog! Shirley attended Harrah Elementary School. Apparently when Shirley was born, her name was quite popular. Since there were a number of Shirley’s in her class, she went by and was known as Ann. This name stuck with her all the way through high school. During Shirley’s Junior High School years, the family moved to La Grande, OR, for a brief stint. Following her parents’ divorce, Shirley and her mother moved to Naches, WA, where she attended and graduated from Naches High School in 1952. During her high school years, she worked for her mother who owned a small café in downtown Naches. It was in 1954 that Shirley met the love of her life, LeRoy Theadore “Ted” Biles. The couple was introduced to each other through a mutual friend. On March 20, 1955, Shirley Larsen became Mrs. Ted Biles. The couple were married on a Sunday at the Presbyterian Church located on West Yakima Ave in Yakima, WA. The couple honeymooned that night at the Multanomah Falls Lodge in the Columbia River Gorge. Then it was on to northern California for a few days. Following the honeymoon the young couple settled in Yakima, WA. In July of 1957 the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Terry Lee. In February of 1960 they welcomed their second child and first daughter, Judy Ann. In November of 1965, they welcomed their third and second daughter, Cyndee Diana. In September of 1968, the family moved to a small farm on Selah Loop Road in the small town of Selah, WA, located just north of Yakima, WA. It was in May 1969, the couple welcomed their fourth child and third daughter, Becky LeAnn. The family resided in a single-family mobile home with the dream of building their own home for the family of six. That dream came true when the house was finished in 1976. The whole family contributed to building their new home. Shirley started working for the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) shortly after the birth of their last child. Shirley worked for DSHS as a Clerk Typist until her retirement in June 1995. After her retirement, her and Ted traveled in their motor home to many places including Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. They also enjoyed trout fishing at many of their favorite little spots. Shirley was known for her excellent pies that she would bake. This even included when she and Ted were up in the mountains picking huckleberries. In their travel trailer, she would bake a fresh huckleberry pie for that evening’s dessert. Shirley’s grandson, Kevin, especially loved her apple pie. No matter when Kevin came to visit (after moving to Oregon to attend OSU) Shirley would bake him an apple pie. Shirley even baked Kevin and apple pie and mailed it to him because it had been so long since he had an apple pie. Oh Shirley. Besides her pie baking, Shirley was known for her knitting. We always said, “If Shirley was sitting, she was knitting.” Shirley knitted everything from Afghans, to mittens, sweaters, scarves, socks, and slippers. The first sweater she knitted for Ted was a little big. There is a picture of Ted wearing a sweater which looks like he is wearing an oversized dress. Needless to say, she tore out the whole sweater and started over. Shirley even taught herself to crochet. But knitting was her passion. Shirley Ann Biles, age 91 years young, passed away in her home on Monday, April 1st , 2025. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, Irving Larsen, and Arlene Olson; her two sisters, Lois Austin, and Helen Boren; baby brother Robert, and the love of her life, LeRoy “Ted” Biles. Shirley and Ted were married for 60 years until her love’s death in July of 2015. Shirley is survived by her children Terry Biles, Judy (Vince) Clark, Cyndee Blank and Becky (Lynn) Roberts. She is also survived by her six grandchildren Hollie (Biles) Yochheim, Julie (Biles) Straus, Heather (Biles) Weber, Tyler Biles, Kevin Blank, and Gabrielle Roberts. Nine great grandchildren also survive her. The family would like to thank the Selah Fire Department First Responders. The multiple times they were dispatched to the house, they treated not only our mother, but the family with the utmost respect and professionalism. Selah FD is a top-notch crew. The family would also like to thank Shirley’s Health Care Team at Yakima Multi-Care Hospital in Yakima. An incredibly special thanks to Dr. JP Maxwell, who was mom’s doctor during her last hospital stay. We can only say, that if you are receiving inpatient care at the hospital and you are in Dr. Maxwells’ care, you will be under the very best care. The family would also like to ask, that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Selah FD (or your local Fire Department), the U.S. Veterans and local Animal Shelters. The family asks that if you desire to donate to a local animal shelter, please only donate supplies such as food, litter, and supplies including cleaning supplies. Another thank you is to Joe Denham III, with Valley Hills Funeral Home. Joe was a tremendous help during this time of laying our mom to rest. Mom, you and dad are together again. That makes all of us dealing with your passing feel better. Love you. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Shirley Biles, please visit our flower store.