Shirley Ann Long Staires was born on July 5, 1935. She transitioned from this life on August 29, 2021. She was the younger of two girls born to Anna Pearl and Alvin Long.

Shirley met and fell in love with Don Staires while attending Tulsa Central high school. The two were married on May 28, 1957. In 1972, the couple founded Shepherd's Fold Ranch, a Christian retreat center and summer camp for kids, which continues to impact families today.

Since Don's death in 1999, Shirley founded and led the ministry of Mentoring Women, she became a published author of ten books, received an honorary doctorate degree, and traveled the world, sharing her passion for the Kingdom of God. Shirley was a teacher, a trainer, a pioneer, a mentor to hundreds, and a camp mom to thousands.

Shirley is preceded in death by her older sister Nita Sellers, and her husband Don. She is survived by her half-sister, LaVon Tolbert and her husband Ed Tolbert. She is also survived by her children, Michael Staires and his wife, Lainey, Kelly Staires Gibson and her husband Gip Gibson, Sally Staires Mulready and her husband Glen Mulready, and Clay Staires and his wife Lisa.

She is also survived by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Meg Staires and her husband Joe Newhall and their children Gus and Lilly, Molly Staires Carman and her husband Brady Carman and their children Margaret and Milo, Riley Staires and his wife Laney, Sophie Staires and her husband Aaron Angelo, Jordan Staires and his wife Emily and their daughter Sutton, Sullivan Staires and his wife Zoe and their son Callahan, Jonah Staires, Grace Gibson, Taylor Melendez, Gage Gibson, Emily Van Dyk, Sam Mulready, Jake Mulready, Will Mulready, Madisson Staires, and Clare Staires.

In lieu of flowers, Shirley requested that donations be made in her memory to [Shepherd's Fold Ranch] https://shepherdsfoldranch.com/contribute/
The family has requested that you please wear pink or a splash of pink at her service.

Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233