On September 14, 1957, Jud and Thelma Poulson welcomed their sixth child, Shirlene Iris Poulson, into the world. When Shirlene was born, Jud and Thelma let her 20-year-old brother, Ed name her. Ed proceeded to name her after his girlfriend, Shirlene, at the time. Also welcoming her were her sisters, Glenda, Marilyn, Joyce, and Dorene.
Shirlene grew up with a lot of nieces and nephews. One time she convinced one of her nephews to rub a jalapeno all over his face. She might have been a little ornery. She had a love for animals, on the farm they had cats, dogs, goats, rabbits, and even a fawn they raised named Fonda.
Growing up as an Elder’s daughter, she visited many Brethren, and assembled at many different churches. Shirlene was a natural at preparing large meals for a crowd. She learned this from having a large family and from the frequent visiting brethren that came to see Bro. Jud and Sis. Thelma.
Shirlene attended Sharon-Mutual school where she graduated Valedictorian of her class in 1975.
On October 9, 1976, she married the love of her life, Mitch Boyd. They made their home in a little house east of Vici and couldn’t have been happier.
On May 27, 1980, they changed their names to “Mom” and “Dad”, and welcomed their daughter, Stephanie Lanae. In 1981 Mitch and Shirlene built their home close to where she grew up. She loved to paint, hang wallpaper, and decorate, so soon their house became a home. On January 4, 1983, they welcomed a son Zachary Wayne Poulson Boyd. On November 26, 1986, they completed their family with another son, Matthew Brody Humberd Boyd. Shirlene loved being a mom. She was very active in their school activities, from being a “Room Mother”, to writing speeches and demonstrations for 4-H, to going to trap shoots, to cheering at ballgames. Another very important part of Shirlene’s life was church. She was baptized in the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn on July 13, 1977, by Bro. Freddie Morris. She loved the Brethren dearly and wanted to serve the Lord. Not long after she was baptized, she started going with the midwives to help deliver babies. She was a midwife for many years and helped deliver countless babies including four of her grandchildren.
As her children got older, and started having their own families, she and Mitch loved to travel. She would have him drive her to Amarillo, Oklahoma City, and Weatherford looking for antique stores. Some of her favorite places to travel to were South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri. She would always come back with a truckload of treasures.
She and Mitch decided to buy some cows with babies and start their farm in 1993. She loved her cattle and kept track of each one. She enjoyed checking and feeding them and could drive the farm truck like a champ!
Shirlene not only loved being a wife and mother, but she loved being a grandma. If she wasn’t having a tea party with her antique dishes, she was having a wienie roast, or making mud pies. She loved taking her grandkids to the movie theater where you always had to have a co*ke and snack!
The last two years Mitch and Shirlene planted pumpkins. When the pumpkins were ready to be picked, they would make a whole day of it. The family would get together and pick pumpkins! There was pumpkin painting, carving, and at the end of the day everyone would load up as many pumpkins as they could! It was a fun day she really enjoyed!
Sadness hit Mitch and Shirlene when they lost their son, Zac in 2020. The pain was deep, but they found comfort in their family, friends, and the Brethren.
During Shirlene’s life she also had to say goodbye to her parents, Jud and Thelma Poulson, her brother, Ed Poulson, her sister and brother in law, Glenda and Carl Johnson, her sister and brother in law, Marilyn and Stan Gaffney, her sister and brother in law, Joyce and Rick Hunter, her father in law and mother in law, Wayne and Arlene Boyd, nephew Paul Poulson, nieces, Stacy and Angel Boyd, very special friends, Christine Clark, Gail Poulson, Susan Moss, and Mike and Recia Garcia.
On June 22, 2024, Shirlene passed away at her home, having fought a good fight and keeping the faith. Those left to grieve her are her husband, Mitch Boyd, daughter, Stephanie Winters, daughter in law, Chasney Boyd, son and daughter in law Brody and Kelsi Boyd, granddaughters, Megan and Lucy Boyd, grandsons, Colton and Dane Boyd, Reed Winters, Barrett and Grady Boyd, very special friends, Kay Manues, Autumn Moss, Jane Jones, Manthy and Ruben Salcido, Mel Mitchell ,sister in law, Wanita Poulson, sister and brother in law, Dorene and Barry Shadid, brother in law and sister in law, Russ and Lorri Boyd, many nieces, nephews, friends, and Brethren.
Memorials may be made to:
Church of the Firstborn or Sunnyside Cemetery
c/o Shaw Funeral Home
P.O. Box 276
Vici, Oklahoma 73859
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