Shirley M Burley

Shirley M. Burley (AKA “memaw”), age 98, of Sebring, Florida, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 2, 1927, to Walter Reed Henriott and Edith (Schotts) Henriott, Shirley lived a life marked by service, strength, and deep compassion. A devoted nurse, tireless volunteer, cherished mother, and treasured grandmother and great-grandmother, she leaves behind a legacy of love and healing that will be felt for generations.

Shirley graduated from the Saint Anthony Hospital School of Nursing in Louisville, Kentucky on August 6th, 1947. While in nursing school, she met her medical school sweetheart, Lee Burley. The two married on June 24, 1947 in Wheeling W.V. Shirley dedicated her life to caring for others, both in her profession and in her community. As a Registered Nurse, she brought comfort and dignity to countless lives. Her commitment to service extended far beyond the hospital walls. She was a steadfast presence in the Heartland Christian Church and previously at First United Methodist Church, a proud member of the Sebring Medical Auxiliary, and served as the Red Cross Coordinator for the internationally renowned Sebring Races—a role in which her calm resolve and caring heart shone through. Whether she was leading the Jr. Women’s Club, playing hands of bridge with dear friends, guiding Cub Scouts with patient encouragement, or writing stories and creating intricate illustrations for her grandchildren, Shirley gave her time generously and with grace. Shirley’s home in Sebring, where she lived since 1953 after moving from Richmond, Virginia, became a place of love, laughter, and comfort to her family and friends. She was the heart of her family, raising four sons with devotion, nurturing her grandchildren with joy, and embracing her great-grandchildren with wonder. She believed in showing up for others, in both the extraordinary and the everyday moments.

She is survived by her loving sons: Steven Burley (Kathy) of Deland, FL; Lee Burley, Jr. of Sebring, FL; Donald Earl Burley of Sebring, FL; her daughter-in-law, Lisa Burley of Sebring, FL; her beloved sister, Beverly A. Sykes of Illinois; grandchildren Brooke McDermott (Andrew) of Sebring, FL; Blair McDermott (Danny) of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and Johnathan Burley of Sebring, FL; as well as three great-grandchildren: Liam Bruce, Ellie, and Astrid, who brought light to her later years. She is now reunited with those who preceded her in death: her beloved husband, Dr. Lee Burley; her son, Bruce Edward Burley; her parents, Walter and Edith Henriott; her stepmother, Dorothy Henriott; her brother, Donald E. Henriott; and her great-granddaughter, Loreleigh McDermott.

To know Shirley was to feel safe in her presence and inspired by her resilience. Her legacy is one of quiet power, faithful service, and unending love. She was, in every sense, a healer, whether in uniform with the Red Cross or simply by being there, hand outstretched, for those who needed her.

The family would also like to express their sincere gratitude for the compassionate care that the Highlands County Vitas nurses and doctors showed Shirley while she was under hospice care.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home, with Pastor Dennis Sheirs officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 AM. Shirley will be laid to rest in Lakeview Memorial Gardens. In honor of a life lived in service and love, her family invites all who knew her to celebrate the memory of a woman who made the world a gentler, stronger, and more beautiful place.

Arrangements entrusted to:
Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home
Sebring, Florida
Online condolences may be left at
www.stephensonnelsonfh.com