Shirley Ann Perry went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, March 29, 2012, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Mo. She was 76.

She was born Sept. 16, 1935, in Picher, Okla., the daughter of Melvin and Beulah (Thompson) Perry. Shirley was born, raised and lived in Picher until the government buyout. She was proud to be called a Picher Gorilla.

In High School Shirley began working at Duff’s Drug Store in Picher and went on to work and manage Duff’s Miami Floral in Miami, Okla., until she retired in 1999. Her beautiful arrangements, corsages and speciality flowers will be remembered by many.

She was a member of the Union Church in Picher where she taught Sunday school. She was presently attending the Riverton Friends Church in Riverton, Kan. Shirley loved traveling, gardening and watching OU football and basketball on the television. She frequented many bleachers, stadiums and auditoriums watching her nieces and nephews perform.

Shirley will always be remembered for her road trips, her sweet spirit, great capacity for love and undying generosity.

Preceding her in death were her parents; a sister, Maxine Pace; and two nephews, Mick Pace and Bruce Anderson.

She is survived by her sisters, Mary Jean Anderson and husband, Bud, of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Patsy Sweeten of Riverton, Kan., who became her confident and caretaker. Also by aunts; cousins; and many precious friends. Shirley was a “second Mom” to 13 nieces and nephews; 23 great-nieces and nephews; and 35 great-great-nieces and nephews, who she loved and made feel very special.

Funeral Services will be Monday, April 2, at 2 p.m. at the Paul Thomas Funeral Home of Miami. Pastor Casey Hollingsworth and Pastor Perry Anderson will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery in Galena, Kan. Pallbearers will be Greg Anderson, Otto Martin, Mike Hatfield, Frank Frazier, Bill Cross, Jay Scott and Brett Rojo. The family will receive friends from 12 to 2 p.m. Monday before the services at the Paul Thomas Funeral Home in Miami.