Sorry to hear of your loss
I saved my husband's shirts and followed Bonnie Hunter's tips
http://quiltville.com/ to take them apart.
The buttons will be glued on Christmas balls ~ ornaments for our son. Some of the larger shirt pieces will be background for Celtic knots on our son's quilt. Information labels will go with the ornaments and on the quilt letting him know these are also from his Dad.
Blessings