Obituary: Shirley Mathis
Shirley Mathis, a beloved housewife and homemaker, departed this world on February 8, 2025, at Methodist Hospital in Germantown, Tennessee. Born on September 26, 1938, in Bolivar, Tennessee, she embraced life with a profound affection for her family, cherishing sweet moments spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Shirley’s life was a testament to the virtues of love and devotion, qualities that defined her role as a steadfast matriarch. Her illustrious journey was not merely marked by her dedication to home and family but also by her simple joys—her delight in sweets and the warmth she found while sitting outdoors, enveloped in nature’s embrace. As a person of deep faith, she identified as Baptist, embodying both grace and steadfast belief.
She is survived by her son, Tony Mathis, and his wife, Sherry, of Byhalia, Mississippi, alongside her two cherished grandchildren and three precious great-grandchildren. Their love for her was a vivid thread woven throughout her life, providing her with joy and purpose.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Buddy Ray Mathis, as well as her cherished son, Michael Ray Mathis. Shirley’s legacy continues through her surviving family, while she is also mourned by the memory of her parents, Marvin Homer Kiestler and Dasie Bell Pirtle Kiestler, and her siblings, which include seven sisters and three brothers.
A visitation honoring Shirley’s life will be held at the Hebron Baptist Church Cemetery on February 14, 2025, in Middleton, from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Following this, a graveside service will take place at 11 a.m., culminating in interment at 11:45 a.m. These moments will be an opportunity for family and friends to gather, reflect, and celebrate the life of a woman whose love knew no bounds and whose spirit will forever remain vibrant in the hearts of all who were privileged to know her. Memorial contributions in her name may be sent to the American Heart Association or the National Kidney Foundation. Shackelford Funeral Directors of Bolivar is in charge of professional arrangements.
Courtesy of Shackelford Funeral Directors, Bolivar, Tennessee.
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