Shirley Lim Mar, or better known to family and friends as Siu Mei, was born in Castroville CA to Jenny Lee Lim and Toy Lim on January 27, 1937 as the oldest of 3 kids. Her sister Sandra Li came soon in 1938, and younger brother Richard in 1943. The family then moved to Watsonville where they worked for farmers and learned the Ag industry, and then to Salinas CA after WW2 in 1946-1947 to open up Toy's Restaurant specializing in Chinese food on 568 E Alisal St to start the family business.

Shirley learned the family restaurant business as a waitress who charmed the customers, and eventually prepared meals which made Toy really proud. Shirley helped out Toy and Jenny after school at Salinas High School Class of 1956. She was the President of Future Business Leaders Club, and the Academic Club, Bumps of Knowledge. Later she attended Hartnell Junior College where she earned her AA.

Shirley showed off her singing and acting chops where she auditioned and starred in a local production of Teahouse of the August Moon in 1957. She then started work at Salinas Valley Savings.

Shirley learned about Jesus Christ from Toy renting out the back room of the restaurant to an Assemblies of God church who would hold weeknight worship services in the property while singing praises to the Lord regularly.

Jenny Lim had the courage to travel up to a Billy Graham Crusade in San Jose all by herself by bus to accept Jesus into her life, and opened up those same doors to her family.

Wallace Mar opened up his dental practice in Fresno CA, and not long after, met his future wife in Salinas CA, Shirley Lim, in the mid-late 1950s. They were married on April 30, 1960 in Fresno.

Son Shannon was born on May 12, 1965, and daughter Kimberlee was born on June 7, 1968.

Shirley and Wally really stepped up their performance in 1976-1977 when they both agreed to chair and lead the local Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association's (CCBA) Chinese New Year's celebrations for that year. Not only did Shirley recruit and schedule all the performers, she also served as the main host and emcee for the main celebration program for the 1977 Lunar New Year.

Mom and Dad accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into their hearts by the mid 1980s, and were born again into the new life only found in Christ. For the rest of her life, she witnessed to strangers, friends, and family alike about every person's need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

In 1999, my sister Kim married Scott Gaw in Irvine CA, and they had Sydney, and then Hudson Gaw. Shirley reveled in the fact that she was now a Grandmother. Shirley's new life now centered on visiting and then primarily living with Sydney and Hudson, along with Kim and Scott, in Irvine CA.

Wally passed away back in 2012 from a stroke, and Shirley began splitting her time between the houses in Fresno and Irvine.

Shirley attended The Bridge Church when in Fresno, and later The Well, Fig Garden Campus when her mobility became more limited.

Shirley was in overall very good health throughout her life, and lived to a wonderful age of 88.

Shirley's current distress began a few weeks ago. Not long after on May 15, she stopped breathing after getting a shower and sponge bath. She officially passed away at about 2:30 PM on Thursday, May 15 in Irvine CA. She was interred at St. Peter's Cemetery in Fresno CA.

The family thanks all the kind and loving caregivers who took such great care of Shirley the past few years through all the difficulties: Miriam, Eiffel, Sage, Elvie, Almira, Jade, Kathy, May, Lorna, and Analiza.

Today, Mom is with Jesus. Her body is here, but her soul resides with the Lord. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Shirley was preceded in passing by her husband Wallace Mar back in June 2012.

Shirley is survived by her son Shannon Mar in Fresno, Kimberlee Mar Gaw with her husband Scott Gaw, grandkids Sydney Gaw and Hudson Gaw in Irvine CA, and brother Richard Lim with his wife Ann Maguire Lim, and daughters Jennifer and Lauren, and son Michael in Fort Bragg CA.

Goodbye, Mom. We'll miss you a lot, but we know you're now free from the ravages of Parkinson's, and ballroom dancing with Dad now.

ZOOM LINK

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83970336933?pwd=kB3ZZ7zDF3N0kx6H7eUQPS4txETKqi.1