The Ashes, Shirley Maxine

          Once Smoky arranged  a Queen for a day Birthday party.

To be truthful, I am not sure if I am repeating myself or not, but here goes.

Shirley told me when she took dad in for his  by-pass operation that the nurse Asked her to take out dad's teeth. She laughed and told the nurse 'He would sure be mad since he doesn't have false teeth.'

I once wanted to ride my bike 35 miles to my brothers' in Shelby. I started and gave out after one mountain and 10 miles. I borrowed a phone and called home and Shirley answered. She volunteered to drive dad's car and get me. When she came, we cooked up the idea of her driving me the last 20 miles and letting me out to ride in and declare I rode all the way. She never told on me.

Once I was her passenger and she ran off the road on a mountain and knocked the gas tank loose. We made it to a station where the mechanic rode her HIGH. "This is so bad I probably can't fix it." He said he would probably have to call daddy and get a tow truck, etc.  After he scared her half to death he fixed the tank and didn't charge a thing.

She and her two friends had a trio and entered 'Author Smith's Talent Contest' in 1951. They sang "Because, Just Because". Shirley started off on the Accordion and on the third verse smoothly switched to the piano, playing with one hand on the piano and the other on the Accordion without missing a note.  They won and appeared on TV.

After her husband passed, she met Smoky Coe. He had owned a recording studio and gave Randy Travis his start.  He also wrote songs for Randy. Shirley got her life long dream to sing in a band. Smokey and the boys used her as the lead singer, she was in her prime and she was good.

                   (Dressed for a country western show)


Now my sister is gone, her body is now a box of ashes.  I have NEVER held anyone's ashes. I look at that box and think this is my sister's ashes. 4 weeks ago I would have sworn she could about out run me, now she is reduced to ashes.  It is hard for me to believe.

Life can sure throw a curve.......  I never want to watch a person die again!

 Nite Shipslog

PS: Shirley would not want this this to end on a sad note, she was a cut up.  So here is Brenda Lee's words to "Because"...

"Just Because"   as sung by Brenda Lee

(B.Shelton / J.Shelton)

Play "Just Because" on Amazon Music

Well-now just because you think you’re so pretty,
Just because you think you’re so hot
Just because you think you've got something,
That nobody else has got.

Though you make me spend all my money,
You laugh and call me old Santa Claus
Well, I'm telling you honey
I'm through with you,
Because, just because

Well-now just because you think I'm so lonesome,
Just because I'll be blue
Just because you think
I'd be foolish to stay around at home and wait for you

Though you made me drop all my boyfriends,
You laugh and call me old Santa Cause
Well, I'm telling you honey
I'm through with you,
Because, just because

Though you make me spend all my money.
You laugh and call me old Santa Clause
But, I'm telling you that
I'm through with you,
Because, just because