Events
Visitation
Larkin Mortuary, 260 E South Temple, Salt Lake City, UtahThursday Sep 18, 2025: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Visitation
Ensign Peak Ward, 155 N Sandrun Road, Salt Lake City, UtahFriday Sep 19, 2025: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Funeral
Ensign Peak Ward, 155 N Sandrun Road, Salt Lake City, UtahFriday Sep 19, 2025: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Listen to Obituary
Shirley passed away Aug. 17, 2025 at the age of 96. She was born on February 20, 1929 to Genevieve Allien Robertson and Joseph Stanley Russon in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the oldest of three children: Diane Russon Chatwin and Robert Stanley Russon. She attended Stewart Training School which was based on John Dewey’s creativity based education. This was perfect for her personality and she loved every day of school. She later attended East High School, the University of Utah and New York University where she was awarded a master’s degree. She received an honorary doctorate from the U of U.
Shirley was a lifetime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She choreographed several all church musicals including “Promised Valley”, was Junior Sunday School Coordinator and a counselor in the Relief Society.
She studied and performed with most of the originators of modern dance and became an expert of the subject of dance for children. She created over 100 choreographic works. She was a full professor of dance and taught full or part time for 41 years at the University of Utah and BYU. She and Joan Woodbury formed a company “The Dancer’s Company” in 1955 and in 1964 created the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. That year two powerful projects emerged on the National Scene: “Artists in the Schools” and “Dance Touring Program”. The company was fortunate to be chosen for both programs. Shirley emerged as the leader in AIS and helped design the program for the next 13 years, and as a result Ririe-Woodbury had more 2 week teaching and performing residencies than any other company. She was also invited as a keynote speaker to many conferences around the world and the country. They traveled to South Africa, Canada, Puerto Rico, Beijing and southern China, Sweden, East and West Germany, London, Australia, Manilla, Singapore, Mongolia and South Korea. She was a Fulbright professor in Hong Kong and New Zealand. She and Joan job shared at the U of U, each getting paid for part time teaching but putting in full time hours. They alternated traveling with the company so that one could stay and teach and be with their families. She inspired dancers and children with her belief that “dance is for everybody”.
Some of the many awards she received were: Merit of Honor from the U of U, the Plaudit Award in 1981 and Presidents Award in 1993 from the National Dance Association. East High’s Distinguished alumnae award in 1986 and the Governor’s Award in 1990. She lobbied with the Utah legislature for 12 years and helped pass the Zoo, Arts and Parks Tax.
She met her future husband working for two summers at the North Rim Lodge of the Grand Canyon where she was infamous for performing “the Chipmunk Dance” for guests. She felt her most important role in life was to be married for 59 years to O. Rhees Ririe (deceased) and to be the parents of four daughters: Robin (Bill Larson, deceased), Megan (Scott Miller), Dana (Ken Harlos) and Melinda (Scott Slighting, deceased) (Karl Wild). 15 grandchildren and 44 great grandchildren. Besides her passion for dance, she was a gourmet cook, curated a colorful garden and performed zany skits for the family Christmas talent shows. She accomplished so much because she needed very little sleep, often staying up til 3 am cooking for parties, sewing doll clothes or planning musical scores for her choreographic works.
A visitation will be held on September 18th from 6 to 8 pm. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple and a visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 and funeral on September 19th at Ensign Peak Ward, 11:00 am, 155 North Sandrun Road, Salt Lake City.
Those wishing to view the service via Zoom can click "Watch Service" or follow the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Q5-YtwR1MDxdlxSmi3Oveldd0CPb00zOcwW34sO2uB01CXaSV8ZSh6u3BNjFqpYF.Y7ZbGnwUruduJn3b?startTime=1758299160000
Guestbook/Condolences
My thoughts and prayers to my dear cousins and family. Your mother was inspirational and such a beautiful person.
Dear family of Shirley, i was honored to know Shirley and to work for her in RW for many years! I am deeply saddened by her passing. What a woman!!! She was a role model, inspiration, and bright light for me always! Ken and I send our sincere condolences. Love,
Donna and Ken White
Shirley made all the difference. I was a freshman at BYU THR YEAR Shirley came to teach there. Her husband had been drafted and sent to Korea. I enrolled in a dance class to fill the PE requirements. Shirley was the reacher and encouraged me to try out for Orchesis. They rejected me until Shirley said I was better in class. That was the beginning of a life long career as a dance educator. Thanks Shirley. you were the best.
I extend my deepest sympathies to Shirley's family and friends for the loss of such an elegant, and dedicated artist, educator, and mother. Shirley inspired so many, including myself, to love dance, as she labored tirelessly with joy and tenacity to ensure its viability as a career. Whether visiting Capital Hill, school boards, or arts councils, Shirley rarely failed to win support and appreciation. In every residency, from the smallest hamlet to the largest city, she was met with warm hugs and bouquets of flowers. Shirley was an innovative performer and choreographer, but perhaps even more inspiring was her ability to transform a room full of rambunctious children into a symphony of laughter and grace; such was her gift and love for dance and for people young and old. Shirley also modeled beautifully how to balance her career with devotion to her family. People like Shirley are so rare, and though we mourn her loss, I hope you will find solace in the knowledge that her love of life and her artistry will carry on with all those whom she inspired and who were blessed to know her.
Dear Ririe Family,
My deepest sympathies... I Remember, I first met Shirley at the University of Utah campus at the time when I was in ballet classes. My mother and Shirley excitedly talked to each other. I said to myself, in my mind, "Oh, that's Shirley Ririe!" She's a famous modern dancer. I didn't know they knew each other. Well, they knew others at the 33rd Ward. (11th East between 4th and 5th South). When my parent, my two brothers Carter and Chuck and I moved to 4th South, We were surprised to find Shirley's parent's house was next door. It was so wonderful neighboor! Shirley was such a dear lady and nicer to me. I did send a Chistmas card to her every year since then. I didn't have time to see her funeral. But I did watch the Zoom meeting while I was at work. Thankfully, I read the closed caption. So, It's so lovely her funeral program. Much love.
To the family of Shirley Ririe.
My condolences to you all upon Shirley’s passing.
I am sad that both Joan and Shirley have now passed and that I will no longer be able to see them in person, should I make a trip back to Salt Lake City from New Zealand.
I am so pleased that I was able to see Shirley in April 2024 at the memorial for Joan.
I have always admired and appreciated Shirley as a unique person - vivacious, positive, creative and caring.
Shirley was one of my teachers at the University of Utah while I was doing my MFA in Modern Dance, and later I had the fortune to become a member of the dance company that she co-directed with Joan.
Learning from and dancing alongside Shirley benefited my personal and professional growth during an important stage of my life. I was given incredible opportunities and experiences that I would not have had, had I returned to New Zealand at the end of my studies.
She was an inspiring dance educator and colleague, and I admired her concern and efforts to balance the dance aspects of her life with her family life.
I am forever grateful for having known Shirley and I feel for your loss. She will continue to be in my thoughts and always in my memories.
Suzanne Renner
I attended the Ririe-Woodbury Summer Workshop between undergraduate & graduate school, & still have many fond memories of the time I was there. Shirley, Joan & Ann Riordan were wonderful teachers & choreographers, & very nice people. Shirley was an inspiration to so many dancers over the years & will be very much missed. My condolences to her family.