My Humble Tribute to Shirley King McCann

I lost a wonderful friend last week. Author Shirley King McCann, a driving force in my writing community, passed away on April 22, 2026. Her passing was a shock and great loss to everyone who knew her.

Shirley was the epitome of light and joy. She was always smiling, laughing, and offering to help with whatever task needed to be completed. She inspired other authors not only by her own wonderful writing, but with words of encouragement and affirmations, as well.

If there was something that needed done, Shirley was there offering her assistance. Whether planning a tea party or a writers' conference, she was there to help with the menu, setup, donation acquisition, logistics, or whatever was needed.

Just last month, she helped me creatively assemble an office chair with ill-fitting screws. We made it work along with our friend, Kathy. That same weekend, I watched her help three other authors unload and unpack their gear and then pack and load it again when the event was over. She was a great team player.

To know Shirley was to be treated to her incredible sense of humor. I was honored to call her my friend and will miss her terribly. I will miss her witty comments and ready smile. Never again will I hear her laugh as she tells me coffee is disgusting, and I should have an iced tea instead. I'll never see her in the T-shirt that said her favorite essential oil was chloroform. (As a mystery author, it was the perfect choice of casual attire.) Most of all, I will never again see her take charge of a rowdy group because she had something important to discuss.

I have never met a more encouraging person. Having Shirley on my side was like having my own personal cheerleader. No matter what I said I was interested in, she was the first one to tell me I should try it. The first to assure me I could do it. Then, she would often offer ideas on how my new venture could be achieved.

Shirley was a caring, loving, creative, and talented lady. She was fun to be around. A gifted storyteller, she was even better listener. In the past few days, I've read countless tributes to her and shock at her loss. I'm not the best when it comes to this type of thing, but this post is my loving tribute to my beautiful friend. It does not do her justice, but I want to put this out into the world because I loved Shirley, and she deserves to be remembered fondly.

Rest in peace, Shirley. The world is a sadder place without you.

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