Peacefully and surrounded by her family, Shirlee Ezmirly passed away on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 at the age of 97 years young.  She will be lovingly remembered by her children, David and Melanie, and by her extended family and friends, including the Key West Rip-Off Rapid Response Team.  Shirlee stayed youthful by walking 2 miles a day and she credited her vegetarian diet for her energetic nature.  She always advised her family: "Take things as they come, and do the best you can with each one."  Shirlee was born on May 19, 1927, in Providence, Rhode Island.  She was the first female occupational therapist in the U.S. Air Force, then joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a Civilian, which brought her to Key West in 1981.  Shirlee spent her life working as an activist to help others.  She began in her late teens, helping an African-American friend sit in a whites-only restaurant.  Here in Key West in the 1980s, she protested outside drug houses with a sign that said "Down with Dope, Up with Hope." Later, she protested T-shirt shops, which destroyed the charm of Duval street.  She was the inspirational leader of the Key West Rip-Off Rapid Response Team, which brought attention to predatory shops on Duval Street.  A celebration of Shirlee's life will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1, in her front yard, 532 Fleming St. at 1:30 p.m.  After the service, we will walk her daily route, which greatly contributed to her longevity and happiness.  The walk will conclude at her final resting place in the Key West City Cemetery.  Friends and loved ones are invited to attend and walk with us.