Claremore - Sarah "Sally" Shirel of Claremore, OK passed away on April 21, 2026 in her home surrounded by family who loved her dearly. Visitation will be on April 25, 2026 from 9:00-10:00 am at Westwood Church Claremore in Claremore, Oklahoma with the funeral to immediately follow. Pastor Rodney Shirel will officiate the service. Graveside service will be held at 12:00 pm at Woodlawn Cemetery. Arrangements by Rice Funeral Home.

Sally was born to Glen and Jean Rumbaugh on May 15, 1935 in Claremore, Oklahoma. She was the eldest of 6, often taking care of her younger siblings. While in high school, she attended a church revival, where she received the Holy Ghost. From then on, church and serving God became the central focus of her life.

On November 9, 1956, she married Harley J. Shirel, a minister. They soon moved to Stockton, California where their daughter Becky was born. They later moved to Tipton OK to pastor a church where their son Kevin was born. In 1963, they moved to pastor a church in Lawton, Oklahoma and did so for 36 years until Harley's passing in 1999.

Investing in children was a cornerstone in Sally's life, both professionally and at church. Sally was a teacher for Lawton Public Schools until she retired in 1994. As a pastor's wife, she taught Sunday school and often spent her Saturdays visiting local neighborhoods, inviting children to church.

Sally was truly a woman before her time. Not only did she graduate with her Master's Degree, driving hours to attend class in Norman, she also had her pilot's license. When Harley became a presbyter, overseeing several churches in SW Oklahoma, they purchased their own Cherokee 235 to make visiting the different churches easier. Both of them got their pilot's license and they flew together until Harley later developed heart disease.

Sally's pride and joy were her children and grandchildren, whom she relentlessly bragged on. Her life told a story of God's faithfulness to her in every circumstance and season. As the song says, "Let my children tell their children, let this be their memory, that all of my treasure was in Heaven, and You were everything to me."

Sally is preceded in death by her husband, Harley and son-in-law, Dana Foster, and two brother-in-laws, Vernon Brown and Sam Nimmo.

Sally is survived by her children Rebecca Foster and Kevin (Shelley) Shirel; her grandchildren Josh (Amber) Foster, Megan (Craig) Ralston, Courtney (Cory) Garcia, and Tyler (Shalwa) Shirel; great grandchildren John Rhett, Reese, Sophie, and Chloe; siblings Bob (Nancy) Rumbaugh, Jacque Brown, Maxcine (Arnold) Brown, Arlene Nimmo, and Polly (David) Sparks.