Shirley Watson

Shirley Ann Ray Watson, 90, passed away quietly in her sleep September 15, 2025 in Maumelle, Arkansas, after a long, fruitful life and nearly two decades of battling Parkinson's Disease. Shirley was born March 23, 1935 in Youngsport, Texas to Artie Ray and Jewel McCollum Ray. She attended Florence (Texas) High School where she was an honor student, during which time she met a young, Air Force enlistee, Billy Watson (who was just seven months older), with whom she eloped after a brief courtship. She and Billy took joy in the fact that, contrary to various prognosticators, their marriage was a lasting one that ended only with the untimely death of Billy in May, 1994. Shirley Watson is survived by her sons, Chuck (Karen) Watson of Germantown, TN, Brad (Julie) Watson of Maumelle, AR, and daughter, Lori Cook of Mount Juliet, TN. She is also survived by two granddaughters, Kara (Vik) Saini and Keely (Adrian) Stinnett, six grandsons (Neale (Andrea) King; Jeremy, Graham, and Christopher Watson; Cody (Rafita) and Austin Cook), and three great grandsons, Asher and Oliver Saini and Callum Cook. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and a daughter, Jeri Watson King. Her family honors Shirley as a highly intelligent, determined woman of many talents whose personal priorities were to be a faithful servant of her Lord and savior Jesus Christ; to be a loving companion, supporter and helper to her husband she loved dearly; and to be a nurturing, protective mother to her children, raising them in the love and faith of Christ. Shirley's many, varied talents were used and displayed in multiple paid and volunteer roles throughout her life. Those roles included: bank teller, church secretary, offset printing press operator, professional photographer's assistant and studio photographer, seamstress, caterer, and licensed Realtor. For some it is a cliche to refer to the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. Shirley's family truly feels this passage is a fitting description of her, especially verses 10-12 and 28-29 (English Standard Version): "An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. . . "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.'" She will be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis (no public services). The family will be holding a private celebration of life this weekend, September 19 and 20. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to The Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation and dedicate the gift to Shirley Ray Watson at Donate to Continue Supporting The Michael J. Fox Foundation.