Shirley Belle Crowley

She was born January 8, 1940, in Louisville, KY, the daughter of Elva (Bowen) Hendrix, and came to Evansville at a young age, where she would make her home for the rest of her life. She graduated from Central High School and earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Evansville.

She went on to spend a long career at Mead Johnson/Bristol-Myers in Evansville as an executive assistant, a job that suited her exactly. Shirley was organized and put together in everything she did. She never missed a hair or nail appointment and wrote everything down (although often indecipherable to those of us who don’t know shorthand). After she “retired” she spent another several years at Chico’s in Evansville, for two very Shirley reasons: she loved clothes, and she loved being around people.

Faith was the steady center of her life. A longtime member of Christian Fellowship Church, she was there every week, and her prayer groups were among the most important standing appointments on her very organized calendar.

Shirley was a reader, rarely without a book, and a loyal and devoted friend. She kept up a wide circle of friendships across many decades and many organizations (including work, church, and Mothers of Twins club) through lunches, long phone calls, playing cards and board games, and trips to Florida and other destinations that she looked forward to every year. She loved to be outside and walked many miles with her walking group friends.

More than anything, Shirley loved her family. She was enormously proud of her twin sons, Kurt and Kyle, and she kept the evidence, including every report card, every award they ever received, every poem written, and every drawing made. Her grandchildren got the same treatment. She kept every picture they drew for her, read to them, and loved to spend time with them and take them to the park while she was able.

She was preceded in death by her son Kurt Crowley; her mother Elva Hendrix; her stepfather James Hendrix; her sister Viola Weil; her brother Charles Langford; her stepsister Louise Williams; and her nephew Daniel Weil.

She is survived by her son Kyle Crowley (Nicole); her daughter-in-law Amy Crowley; her five grandchildren, Evan Crowley, Kaitlyn “Katie” Crowley, Ashley Crowley, Alana Crowley, and Alyssa Crowley; and her nephews Mark Weil, Robert Weil Jr., Brian Weil, and Eric Langford.

Private services will be held at a later date. Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderNewburghChapel.com.

The family would like to thank Primrose Retirement Community for their long-term care of Shirley and both Primrose and St. Croix Hospice for the care and compassion they showed Shirley in her final days.