Mary L. Shirey

She was born in Summerdale, Alabama on October 14, 1915 to Charles E. and Sallie Wynn Matkins. She was a member of the Morningside Baptist Church in Tallahassee.

She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Janis, and also her husband, Alvin A. Shirey, who owned a masonry contracting business in Miami, Florida for many years. After retirement, they lived briefly in Dallas, Texas, and then moved to Tallahassee in 1978.

She is survived by daughters Joan Deevey of Dallas, and Carolyn Shackelford (Steve) of Tallahassee; grandchildren Lynn S. Peacock and Cara Lee Starnes (Bill) of Tallahassee; Kathy Deevey Haas (Steve) of Dallas and Robert Deevey, Jr. of Atlanta.

Lucy moved to the Westminster Oaks retirement community soon after her husband’s death in 1988 and during her years there particularly enjoyed various activities with friends and numerous visits with great grandchildren Christy Peacock Schnell (Noah) of Tampa, Leslie Peacock of Dallas, Taylor Kimbel, Jessica and Carter Starnes of Tallahassee and Lydia Deevey of Atlanta. In June of this year, she was blessed with the birth of a great great granddaughter, Lyla Rose Schnell of Tampa.

A graveside celebration of life service is planned for August 11, 2011 at the Wynn Cemetery in Summerdale. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Morningside Baptist Church Building Fund or Westminster Oaks Foundation in Tallahassee.

Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.