Ron Shirey

FORT WORTH — Ronald L. Shirey could be as gruff as a bear when it came to achieving excellence in music, but he had the heart of a teddy bear, friends and associates said Monday.

Mr. Shirey demanded the best from the thousands of Texas Christian University students he taught, as well as from choir members at University Christian Church — choirs that played at New York’s Carnegie Hall six times.

And he got it.

"I nudged him just after the choir performed one Sunday and told him, 'That’s my new favorite,’ " the Rev. Alan Lobaugh, senior associate minister at the church, said.

"But then it seemed that every Sunday, it was my new favorite. He just got the best from his choir every time."

Mr. Shirey, 76, was preparing again on Sunday morning to lead the church choir when he collapsed. Paramedics pronounced him dead at his Fort Worth home. The cause of death had not been determined by Monday evening, but he had heart problems, associates said.

A candlelight vigil was held Sunday night, and small wreaths lay at his TCU parking space Monday. Notes were written in chalk by current and former students.

"He gave his musical life to his students," said Janet Pummill, associate professor of music and coordinator of collaborative piano at TCU.

Born Jan. 18, 1933, in Tulsa, Mr. Shirey was the only child of Levi William and Opal Shirey. He graduated from Northeast High School in Tulsa.

"From as early as anyone can remember, music was a part of his life," said Joslyn Shirey of Fort Worth, Mr. Shirey’s daughter-in-law.

Mr. Shirey and Alpha Jane Savenius met as music majors at Tulsa University and married Nov. 18, 1956. He completed his graduate work at the University of Texas in Austin and Arizona State University.

He taught at Edison High School in Tulsa, Del Mar College in Corpus Christi and Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, N.M., before arriving at TCU in 1976 as director of choral activities. That same year, he was hired as director of music and choirmaster at University Christian Church.

"His church choir was just as important as his TCU students," said Kyla Rosenberger, an organist at the church. She knew Mr. Shirey for 26 years. "He could be very warm, but he was also demanding. His conducting skills were of the highest order. He knew how to get the music out of you."

Mr. Shirey’s choirs performed throughout Europe, Asia and several times in Mexico. He was chorus director for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra from 1983 to 1993.

"He was such an icon in the choral world," said Richard Gipson, director of TCU’s school of music. "He was driven to be the best, and he got the best out of his students."

Despite illness, Mr. Shirey had not slowed down. On Oct. 26, he conducted a men’s ensemble with a group of students, most of whom were not music majors. On Thursday, the TCU Chorale had a concert led by Mr. Shirey.

Survivors include his wife; sons Steve and Greg Shirey of Fort Worth and Kevin Shirey of Austin; and one granddaughter.

Memorial service 4 p.m. Friday, November 06, 2009 at University Christian Church, 2720 S. University Drive in Fort Worth. A reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.

DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR., 817-390-7763 Star Telegram