WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Rickie Gayle Shires Jr., age 31, of Union City, Mich., passed away unexpectedly Saturday morning, Oct. 1, 2011, in Sturgis, Mich.
He was born Jan. 29, 1980, in Springfield, Ore.
Rickie had resided in Union City since 1990 coming from California. He was a graduate of Union City High School with the class of 1998 where he had played on the football and basketball teams.
He had been employed by Johnson Controls in Battle Creek and Walmart.
Rickie was a member of the Union City Wesleyan Church. He loved nearly all sports, especially baseball, basketball and football and was an avid and loyal fan of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and the Detroit Red Wings.
He is survived by his loving parents, Dell and William Cook of Union City; his daughter, Christianna; four sisters, Pamela Warren of Union City, Kari Rosenberry of Bronson, Shelly Cook of Union City and Cynthia (Brett) Bernhardt of North Carolina; one brother, Michael Shires of California; grandparents, Virgil and Hazel Bowerman of Union City and Ray and Vi Cook of Coldwater Lake; the nieces and nephews he cherished, Jasmine, Leah, Blake, Bryce, Rilee, Jace, Kimberly, Jessica, Robert and Kayla.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Elize and Emily Dahbolt and Gayle Shires; and great-grandmother, Gladys Stuck.
In accordance with family wishes, cremation has taken place. The family will receive friends from 2-2:45pm Thursday at the Union City Wesleyan Church, 202 St. Joseph St. in Union City where a memorial service celebrating the life of Rickie G. Shires, Jr. will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday. Pastors Dan Wheeler and Marty Burdick will officiate.
The Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091, 269-651-2331 is entrusted with the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations would be appreciated to the family c/o: Mrs. Dell Cook, 437 Stancer Rd., Union City, MI 49094.
The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
