Shirley Tempel's father was George Francis Temple. He worked as a businessman and banker in Southern California. Her mother's name was Gertrude Amelia Krieger. She loved to dance and this love obviously helped shape Shirley. George and Gertrude were married in 1914 and had three children – Jack (oldest, born in 1915), George Jr.(second oldest, born in 1919), and Shirley Jane. They all lived in Santa Monica, California.