Shirley Ann Deaton

Shirley Ann Deaton MARION-Shirley Ann Deaton, 68, of Marion passed away at 3:30 AM, Saturday, April 1, 2006 at her home surrounded by family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, April 3, 2006 at the Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Reverend David Hancock officiating and Dr. Ray Hancock will give the eulogy. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Sunday, April 2, 2006 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Marion. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois; envelopes are available at the funeral home or may be sent co Blue Funeral Home, P.O. Box 411, Marion, Illinois, 62959. Shirley was born on August 2, 1937 in Marion to Cleamon and Alpha (Clarida) Dempsey. She was a life-long resident of Marion, a member of Third Baptist Church, Delta Theta Tau Sorority and a Marion High School Graduate with the Class of 1955. Shirley was married on September 5, 1959 to Wesley Deaton. Together they enjoyed 46 happy years. They were blessed with two children, Timothy Deaton and Jil Ann Deaton, and one granddaughter, Allexis Renee Deaton. Even in the darkness of Alzheimer’s, Shirley would always smile at the mention of her granddaughter’s name. Shirley was a very warm, gentle and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. As she was undergoing therapy at Parkway Manor Nursing Home, she was called “Little Miss Sunshine” by several staff members because of her infectious smile and loving tender nature. Shirley spent her working career as a bookkeeper and credit manager at Sears, and as a sales clerk at Teen Fashion and Joyce’s Boutique. She was also a full-time homemaker and she loved decorating her home. Christmas was a special time for her and she would elaborately decorate each room of her home. Shirley was loved and will be missed by her husband; her children; her granddaughter; sister, Rudy Kasper-Danley and her husband Ray; sister, Kathy Nance and her husband Ray; nieces, Kay, Jodi and Tamara; great niece, Tanille; special life-long friends, Ray and Ruth Hancock, Larry and Ann Moore, Francis Ozment, Wayland Sims, and Don Meredith; and many others. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; brothers-in-law, Bill Tanner and George Kasper; and nephew, Jay McAnnelly.