Brother Shirey began his Masonic career by being initiated in Fyffe Lodge #697 on May 11, 1979, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on May 25, 1979 and raised to the degree of Master Mason on May 31, 1979. He received his Certificate of Proficiency on the Ritual in March, 1981. He served his Lodge as Master during the 1981-82 Masonic year. He began serving the Grand Lodge when he was appointed Assistant District Lecturer of District #7 in 1981. He served as District Lecturer in 1982 and was appointed as a member of the Committee on Work the same year. In 1983 Brother Shirey served as Chairman of the Committee on Work. In 1984 he was appointed again to the Committee on Work for Group 1. In November 1985 Brother Shirey was elected Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Alabama and has advanced through the Grand Lodge Chairs to be elected Most Worshipful Grand Master at the November 1988 Grand Lodge Session.

Brother Shirey is a member of the Huntsville Scottish Rite Bodies, the DeKalb-Jackson York Rite Bodies, Cahaba Shrine Temple, Royal Order of Scotland, Rainsville Chapter Order of Eastern Star, and the DeKalb-Jackson Square and Compass Club.

Brother Shirey was born the son of Cecil G. Shirey and Lillie Mitchell Shirey on September 13, 1948 in DeKalb County, Alabama. He attended public schools in DeKalb County and graduated from Plainview High School in 1966. He proudly served his country as a member of the United States Navy from 1967 to 1970. After fulfilling his military obligation he returned to Alabama and began his college studies at Northeast State where he graduated with honors.

Brother Shirey and his wife, the former Carolyn Sue Hays of Rainsville, are the parents of a daughter, Christa. They reside in Rainsville, where Brother Shirey is employed as Vice President of Manufacturing of Grenoble Mills, Inc. His wife Sue is a computer operator with Farmers Telephone Cooperative in Rainsville.