Shirley Stone Storrs

1931 ~ 2019

Salt Lake City, Ut—Shirley Grace Stone Storrs, 87, passed away peacefully at LDS Hospital after succumbing to her third courageous battle with cancer on October 18, 2019. She was born on December 10, 1931, in Salt Lake City to David Ray Stone and Sarah Hibbert Stone and was the youngest of four children. Shirley graduated from South High School in 1949 and earned an Associate’s Degree in Music from the University of Utah. She went onto marry her high school sweetheart, Richard Henry Storrs in the Salt Lake Temple on June 30, 1953. Shirley lived a rich and full life raising five children, holding a lifetime career as a proficient secretary, traveling and living abroad via she and her husband’s musical pursuits and serving the gospel through her music and various callings, including serving a 2-year mission to Brisbane, Australia after her retirement from the State of Utah Division of Human Services.
Born to a creative and talented family, her love of music was recognized and cultivated from an early age. She began her study of piano during her early primary education, going on to become an accomplished classically trained pianist and alto vocalist for the Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square. Her music defined her life, traveling the world with her husband Richard, a professionally trained tenor opera singer and fellow member of the Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square. Her long career with the choir spanned more than 30 years, taking her to five different continents and singing at the inauguration for four U.S. presidents.
As with her musical achievements, her deep devotion and faithful service to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was one of her greatest passions and sources of joy. Among the many places she lived including Utah, California, Germany and Italy, her skills as a pianist and organist were always quickly recognized and led her to callings as Ward, Sunday School, Primary and choir organist and pianist, Ward Music Director as well as accompanying her husband’s frequent vocal performances. Fluent in both German and Italian, Shirley also served as a tour guide at the Conference Center over the past six years.
Shirley is survived by her four children: Heidi Storrs, Salt Lake City, UT; Melody Sortor (Doug), Rockport, WA; Sara Olsen, Durango CO; and Andrew Storrs (Mario), San Diego, CA; nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Storrs; son, Nathaniel Storrs; and grandchild, Laura.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 26, 2019, at 11 am, at the LDS Chapel, 1883 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84115, with a viewing prior from 10-10:45 am. Interment will be on Monday, October 28, 2019 at 1 pm at the City of Hurricane Cemetery, in Hurricane, Utah.