Shirley O’Kelley passed from this life surrounded by her family on Thursday, July 21, 2022. Her care has been entrusted to Palmer Marler Funeral Home in Cushing, OK.
Shirley was born on October 13, 1936, to Earnest and Elsie Moore. Shirley’s mother passed away at a very young age which made her have to grow up very quickly. She married her sweetheart, Shelby “Wayland” O’Kelley in Enid, OK, on October 30, 1953. She said there were trick or treaters walking around while they were getting married since it was so close to Halloween.
Shirley enjoyed going to the senior citizen’s center and listening to the music, sometimes even dancing to it. If you’ve been to Shirley’s house, then you have seen the many lighthouses she collected. Just like those lighthouses, Shirley was a beacon to her family. Her home was always full of her children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
Shirley’s life centered around her family. Everything she did, she did for them. Cooking, playing cards, collecting recipes to bake pies and cakes. She wanted her home to be a safe place for her family to come and enjoy themselves. Robin said that even in her last few days, she wanted to see her great-great grandchildren play, so they put them on the end of her bed so she could see them play. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wayland, her brothers Thomas and Gilbert Moore, her daughter-in-law Belinda O’Kelley, and her grandson Tony Ray Tinnie.
She is survived by her four children, Jimmie O’Kelley and his wife Karen, Sherry Smith and her husband Roger, Robin Mitchell and her husband David, and Leon O’Kelley and his late wife Belinda; her brother Taylor Caldwell; her grandchildren Michael, Jennifer, Sherry May, Danny, Eugene, Jason, Kevin, Mona, Tommy and Justin; eighteen great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren; along with numerous nieces, nephews, family, friends and neighbors.
A visitation will be from 3PM – 7PM on Sunday, July 24, 2022, at Palmer Marler Funeral Home Chapel in Cushing. A funeral service will be held at 10AM, Monday July 25, 2022, at the Palmer Marler Funeral Home Chapel in Cushing with interment at Euchee Valley immediately following.
