Steve Shirley (ChgrSteve67), a good friend, has died....

[hemi68charger]

It is a sad day when anyone passes on. But for us here, when it is one of our own, it has a stronger impact. I hope his wife is gaining the comfort from family and friends... May Steve rest in peace......

[djcarguy]

   VERY sorry to hear this about Steve. i pray for Marie to be with family and friends ,and for some peace and comfort  that we all wish for her . Steve touched lots of lives with his smile and willingness to be friendly and talk an share car stories. glad i met Steve and Marie at a little  car show in elmira,Oregon. it was a very hot day in 2010 met them,  the next year same show met again .

    great guy and smile,very glad we met and enjoyed that and all his great posts,  an travels with Marie and big red on here.


       May God Bless and keep Marie and family and friends thru all this.

      think Bryan covered lot of it .was great meeting him and his wife at the elmira shows parked there with steve and marie.    
                     take good care and God Bless to all his family and friends,so sorry.DJcarguy in oregon

[plum500]

Very sad to read about this. I never met him, not even online - but as soon as I opened this thread I did remember his car - his posts.

[TruckDriver]

I have tried about 15 times to make a post, but never made it to the end of what I wanted to say before losing it again. We'll see how far I get this time.

We have known Steve & his wife since 2005 when he joined the first generation forum back then. We talked a lot, then we decided to meet face to face in 2006. They drove up from Sacramento and we drove down from Seattle to about half way and we ended up in Grants Pass Oregon at a bed & breakfast for the weekend. We had a great time getting to know one another. From that point on, we made it a yearly event to get together for a weekend. Either they drove up to our place, or we flew down there to spend a few days together. There were 3 years that we each drove to a car show just outside of Eugene, Oregon as well. We stayed at the same hotel those 3 years.

When I got home from work each night for the last 5 years, I would settle in my chair with my laptop and Steve & I would talk on the "instant messenger" system about anything. We would tell each other what we did that weekend, what we were gonna do the following weekend, he would always ask about my wife's heart issues and my back problems. If he had a car issue, I would help him with advice and parts. If I had computer problems, he would help by taking over my computers by remote control and fix mine while he was sitting in his chair in his own house. He had a talent for computers that I will never ever have.

I talked to Marie the other night, offered my sorrow and if there was anything she needed, we are there for her. We know the "how", "where", and "when" in regards to what happened to Steve, we just don't know the "why" this took place, and I suppose we never will.

I have no motivation to go out to my garage and even look at my cars....I have lost one of my best friends and will never know what happened.

I'm having a very hard time dealing with this and not sure what to do about it. I keep waiting for an email or instant message from him so I can wake up from this nightmare.....

A couple pics below of our first meeting at Grants Pass, I will cherish these forever (I'm the one on the left in the goofy hat)

This may be my last post for quite some time....take care all

Bryan

The best thing you can do, is get out in your Charger, and drive the hell out of it in regaurds to Steve. It will also help with the healing of your heart. I saw a fellow trucker get killed once right in front of me, and the best thing I did, was just keep working and driving for him. It help cure my heart, and my mind. I understand, this was on more of a personal level, but I still think it is the best thing you can do. Take care what ever you decide to do. But don't give up on your cars, cause Steve would not of approved of that.

[kokxville]

I'm sorry to hear this.I didn't know him personally,but for me as a chargerguy he was one of us.
I wish the best of luck to the relatives for their loss.

[68X426]

Hello Everyone. This is such a sad subject for all of us.

Steve and Marie became good friends to my wife and I over the years. I haven't been able to post, or even think straight, for the days since I learned about this. It is a gut punch for me. I hurt, but I can't begin to fathom Marie's pain.

Marie granted me permission to share some information on her behalf. It may help in finding some peace with this as a community, though never an understanding.

Yes, Steve took his life.

Marie is touched to learn about just how many friends he had in the Mopar community. She is finding solace in hearing about his reputation and how well thought of he was.

That is the extent of any statement at this time. Nothing can be added. Let us be respectful as she searches for acceptance of the unexplainable.

I don't know how she will come to grips with this tragedy, but she shared that, one day, she would like to read what's being written here. That will be somewhere off in the future. Continue to contribute with photos and stories that she will be sharing in eventually.

For now, please submit tributes, words, and thoughts at the memorial website:
http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Steven-Shirley&lc=4917&pid=160787629&mid=5293748&locale=en-US

Thank you Mark for posting the link for the memorial on November 10th. Please attend if you can.
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,96425.0.html

Steve was an old soul, always generous, always cheerful, and one fine gentleman. I will miss him dearly.

[Darkman]

I just saw this and I am absolutely shattered to read this.

As with many on here I never knew him personally, but I spoke to him via PM's on occasion and felt that I knew him. A very cheerful person and happy to help.

My condolences to his friends and family 

[ODZKing]

Thanks to all and 68X.  I DID know Steve and Marie - and we spoke, probably not as often as I would like.  In 2010 we did talk weekly though in discussion about our trip to the CEMA show in Detroit.
I posted earlier but didn't really know what to say except to express my condolences.
I haven't posted on the obit yet for the same reason, like Bryan I have not been able to stop thinking about this and/or get my head around it since I heard.
I will never forget the wonderful weekend we had back in June 2011 in Auburn Hills - the best part going to dinner and then just sitting outside at our hotel, having a toddy and chatting with both of them.  Great memories, not soon to be forgotten - never will.
Everything every one has said is true and we had other bonds that we shared, our Chargers birth are days apart and also the love for our furry felines.
As TruckDriver said, the best thing I could do (and have been doing) is working on my car.  Steve was one of the first to post the day I started my thread of it being home from the shop.
RIP Steve and God Speed!

[firefighter3931]

Very sad news ! 

Steve was very well liked here, allways had a positive outlook and was helpful to other members. 

May you rest in peace brother 


Ron

[autodynamics]

My heart goes out to his family and friends
A moment of silence .....................



















Pete

[bill440rt]

So sorry to see the loss of a DC.com brother. He will be missed. I enjoyed his posts.
My condolences to his family & friends.

[mauve66]

Thanks to all and 68X.  I DID know Steve and Marie - and we spoke, probably not as often as I would like.  In 2010 we did talk weekly though in discussion about our trip to the CEMA show in Detroit.
I posted earlier but didn't really know what to say except to express my condolences.
I haven't posted on the obit yet for the same reason, like Bryan I have not been able to stop thinking about this and/or get my head around it since I heard.
I will never forget the wonderful weekend we had back in June 2011 in Auburn Hills - the best part going to dinner and then just sitting outside at our hotel, having a toddy and chatting with both of them.  Great memories, not soon to be forgotten - never will.
Everything every one has said is true and we had other bonds that we shared, our Chargers birth are days apart and also the love for our furry felines.
As TruckDriver said, the best thing I could do (and have been doing) is working on my car.  Steve was one of the first to post the day I started my thread of it being home from the shop.
RIP Steve and God Speed!

i've been struggling the past 6 months trying to decide to sell everything and buy gold to get through the next 10 years (not going to turn this political or economic) or just hope that what i'm seeing/reading is going to be wrong.  On Nov 2, that decision was finalized for me here on dc.com.

i only met Steve once but his work on his car and his genuinely friendly character to a complete stranger made an impact.  I told him that it seemed like "something was always getting in the way" of getting the car done, he said "you just have to make progress".  I don't condone or try to understand his decision, but having been down the same road several times i know that a decision has to be made everyday on what happens the next day.  Nobody else can do it for you and questions after the fact will never have a "perfect" answer for everyone else to accept.

so today i start working on the car for real, 2 sections are already in the box to get sent for repairs, 2 other sections will be ordered later this week.  I don't have the cash to complete the job at this time but we'll worry about that later.  Working on this car gives me great peace of mind and body (even if something goes wrong) no matter what is going on in life, and if i get to create something that is half as nice as Steves' then i know that i will enjoy the ride from this day through completion and beyond.

Life is too short to worry about what we can't control, life is about enjoying what we can get done a day at a time.
it took awhile to understand Steve, but thanks for the advise

[Dans 68]

...Life is too short to worry about what we can't control, life is about enjoying what we can get done a day at a time.
it took awhile to understand Steve, but thanks for the advise

Dan

[Drache]

Very sorry to hear. But I must say it sounded like he had many friends on this forum and in the world and that is all a person could really ask for.

What about creating a special forum where only the admin can post. A place where the names of the fallen from DC.com can be read and remembered without worry of the post getting buried in time.

[dads_69]

Wow...sad news indeed.
Condolences to family..



Mark

[Neal_J]

Man, what a gut-punch...

We met Steve & Marie at the Treasure Island get together a couple of years ago.  Steve was very nice and generous with his knowledge.  

Condolences to his bride, family & friends (here @ DC.com & beyond).

Godspeed, Steve.  I hope you've found peace.

Neal

[moparstuart]

Very sorry to hear. But I must say it sounded like he had many friends on this forum and in the world and that is all a person could really ask for.

What about creating a special forum where only the admin can post. A place where the names of the fallen from DC.com can be read and remembered without worry of the post getting buried in time.

or just have a sticky where we can add links to the tribute threads to keep the memories alive of our lost charger friends  kinda like  CODYS restoration threads sticky

[Steve P.]

I am going to STICKY this thread for now until we decide exactly what we are going to do for the future.

[JB400]

A Friend Lost page would be a good idea

[68X426]

A Friend Lost page would be a good idea

Not a good idea, a GREAT idea. 

[TruckDriver]

A Friend Lost page would be a good idea

Not a good idea, a GREAT idea. 

[skip68]

I agree but only a members lost thread.   Not being rude but I think we have over 12,000 members.   I wouldn't want it flooded with people we don't know or celebrities.   You guys know what I mean. 
Thanks Steve.   

[68 CHARGER R/T]

omg, i'm so sorry to hear this news. my condolences to the family 

[JB400]

I agree but only a members lost thread.   Not being rude but I think we have over 12,000 members.   I wouldn't want it flooded with people we don't know or celebrities.   You guys know what I mean. 
Thanks Steve.   

I do agree, maybe I should have been more specific, Thanks.

[400/6/PAC]

So sorry to here that.
RIP