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Submitted: 12/17/21 • Approved: 12/29/21 • Last Updated: 1/1/22 • R1407130-G0-S3
February 24, 1904 - November 1, 1999
*Obituary
PARIS — Crete Shirley, 95, of Paris died Monday, Nov. 1, 1999. She was the retired owner/operator of Shirley Flower Shop and a member of First United Methodist Church. She was the widow of Byron Shirley.
Funeral will be at the First United Methodist Church with burial at Oakwood Cemetery under the direction of Roller Funeral Home.
She is survived by two daughters, three sisters, one brother, nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Her husband and two oldest children preceded her in death.
The family will visit with friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Her life (written by her granddaughter): "Ms Shirley" as everyone called her was a quiet person who preferred to be behind the scenes. Whether it was sharing coffee and sugar during WWII (from her son stationed in the Navy), arranging and contributing the Methodist Church rose bouquet every single Sunday for morning church services, or crocheting endless afghans for the nearby retirement community, she was a humble lady who was the matriarch of our family. She was always thankful for what she had, and did not like to waste anything.
During her life, she not only raised 4 children, but helped pay for others to go to college, and endlessly served in community functions such as the county fair breakfast (she always baked the biscuits from scratch), and the Lady's Garden Club (she became the county's first Master Gardener).
Even in her last years, she was giving to her community. They decided to hang the old Christmas tree lights across the town square, and her instructions to the committee was for men with "young legs" to bring her boxes of lights for her to check - one by one - then send back in ready to hang over the square.
Her life was very full and we dearly miss her.
Contributed on 12/17/21 by billsully060
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Record #: 1407130