Longtime county clerk Shirley Parraguirre dies

By Mary Manning

Published Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 | 10:52 a.m.

Updated Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 | 4:25 p.m.

Shirley Paraguirre

Longtime Clark County Clerk Shirley Parraguirre, who ushered her office into the Internet age, died Sunday night after a long battle with leukemia.

Parraguirre, 69, headed the clerk's office for 11 years.

"Shirley was a professional who took her responsibilities seriously," County Commission Chairman Rory Reid said in a statement. "She was a great clerk and an even better person and always had a smile on her face. She will be greatly missed around here."

While Parraguirre headed the clerk's office, she brought operations into the modern computer age and reduced customer wait times for copies from two weeks to two days by initiating electronic filing of court documents. She also launched e-commerce transactions for online customers applying for marriage licenses.

Parraguirre headed the clerk's office at a time of unprecedented growth in Clark County and met the need by extending office hours and opening satellite offices in Laughlin, Mesquite and Henderson.

Parraguirre began her career as a legal secretary and before entering public service, served as president of the Las Vegas Legal Secretaries' Association. Each year she worked to put on an annual holiday fundraiser for the Southern Nevada Children's Home.

Assistant County Clerk Diana Alba will take over Parraguirre's responsibilities until the Clark County Commission appoints a replacement, which is expected to occur at its Sept. 15 meeting.

The clerk issues marriage licenses, which fell to 95,170 in 2008, down from a high of 128,258 in 2004, directs daily operations of seven locations involving more than 50 employees, accepts passport applications and accepts bonds and administers the oath to notary publics.

The clerk is a ex-officio member of the County Commission and the civil commissioner for marriages. She also serves as the secretary to numerous other boards, including the Board of Equalization, the Liquor and Gaming Board, the Water Reclamation District Board, the Debt Management Commission and the UMC of Southern Nevada Board of Trustees.

Funeral services for Parraguirre were scheduled Monday afternoon. Visitation has been set from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the main chapel of Palm Mortuary, located at 1325 N. Main St.

Funeral services are at 1 p.m. Thursday at the main chapel of Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St.

Burial will follow the service at Palm Mortuary Cemetery, 6701 N. Jones Boulevard at the 215 Beltway in northwestern Las Vegas.