Shirley Louise Smith

12/01/1930 - 08/12-2020

Shirley Louise Thomas was born on December 1, 1930 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was adopted by Jonathan and Cleo Hicks on January 14, 1931 at the age of six weeks old.

They lived in Clinton, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Where she attended grade school and High School. While at Clinton High School she was an outstanding academic student, head majorette, and a member of the band.

After high school she attended Penn State University for two years before transferring to Robert Morris University. It was there she met Gene Smith at a dance and fell madly in love. They were married seven months later on August 21, 1950.

She had three children: Linda, Lee and Lori to whom she was a mother, teacher, nurse, friend, chauffeur. She was blessed with seven grandchildren and sixteen great - grandchildren. Shirley's life was devoted to her family and they meant everything to her. She loved them unconditionally.

Shirley was a patient and loyal wife who supported her husband through both blessed and challenging times. When the children were in grade school, Gene and Shirley fell on financially difficult times. Without hesitation, Shirley took a position with the State of Florida as a secretary to the manager in the human resource division where she worked for ten years.

Gene's career required the family to relocate multiple times, ultimately leading to retirement in Murphy, North Carolina. After retirement, Gene took a position at a local golf course; here, Shirley was an avid golfer, and President of the ladies' organization and rules committee. She enjoyed competing with other ladies' organizations in the area.

In addition, Shirley took a position with Walmart as a cashier where she worked for over fourteen years. Due to the progression of her dementia, Gene and Shirley decided to move to Ten Mile, Tennessee so they could have the support of their oldest daughter, Linda. While this time spent with Linda was invaluable, Shirley had a deep desire to be closer to the rest of her children and grandchildren. This desire led to the decision to move in with her youngest daughter, Lori and son-in-law Keith in Kennesaw, Georgia.

It was here she spent the remaining six years of her life surrounded by family while enduring the progression of Alzheimer's disease. She was very good natured and had a wonderful demeanor. She never complained but was very stubborn and had a mind of her own. When Shirley said "no" that is exactly what she meant, and no one was going to change her mind. In her final weeks, she enjoyed watching movies, her favorite being Mamma Mia. She also greatly enjoyed her ritual card games with her daughter, Lori. The mornings following the card games, Gene would always ask who won. Shirley's response was either "her did" referring to Lori, or "I did" She took great pleasure in winning, especially against Lori.

The Lord called Shirley home on Wednesday, August 12th at 9:00pm with her husband and children by her side.

She is survived by her husband, Gene, her children, Linda and Bill Decker, Lee and Joanne Smith, Lori and Keith Kohlier, her grandchildren, Heather and Bo Coughlin, Ashley and Greg Cox, Keith and Amy Kohlier, Meghan and Rob Rauch, Adam and Leah Smith, Matt and Carley Mowell and Mallorie Smith as well as her sixteen great-grandchildren.