Joe Stuart Shirley

Obituary for Joe Stuart Shirley

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Joe Stuart Shirley, aged 79, who left us on December 9, 2025. Born on October 19, 1946, in Ada, Oklahoma, Joe was a proud native of the Sooner State, raised in the close-knit community of Konawa. His early life laid the foundation for a remarkable journey characterized by intellect, service, and community engagement.

A Memorial service will be held to celebrate Joe's life and legacy on Saturday December 13, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Coppell, 420 S Heartz Road, Coppell, TX, 75019. We invite all who knew him to join us in honoring a remarkable man who touched the hearts of many. He will be taken to Swearingen Funeral Home in Konawa, Oklahoma for burial.

A graveside service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 17th at Konawa Cemetery under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa. Viewing will began at 11:00 a.m. at Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa.

Joe graduated from the East Central University in Ada Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics. He was selected to attend the US Navy's Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an Ensign, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, serving from 1969 until 1974. Following his active service in the Navy, Joe enrolled at the University of Oklahoma where he received a degree in Electrical Engineering. He then embarked on a successful career with Mobil Oil Co, where he applied his expertise in Electrical Engineering in the Seismology Division both domestically and abroad prior to retiring in the early 1990s.In a testament to his diverse interests, talents and devotion service, Joe attended barber school on Saturdays between Mobil assignments, ultimately opening Bethel Road Barber Shop in Coppell, Texas. His warm spirit and skilled hands created a welcoming space for countless residents, enriching the lives of those around him. His other major interest in photography yielded thousands of pictures and slides of many things and places here and around much of the world.A charter member of the Coppell Lions Club, Joe was dedicated to serving his community and making a positive impact in the lives of others. He was also an active member of the Republican Party of Coppell, passionately engaging in the political landscape and advocating for his beliefs. Though Joe never married or had children of his own, he often remarked that his beloved nieces and nephews were all he needed to fill his life with joy and purpose.

Joe is survived by his loving brother, Frank Shirley of Konawa, OK; beloved nephew and his wife, James and Gabbie Shirley of Chesapeake, VA; cherished nieces and their husbands, Lori and Wes Joyner of Konawa, OK; and Angela and Greg Church of Clarksville, TN. He also has 3 great nieces, Alyssa Warstler, Kaitlyn Shirley, and Amrilyn Hawpe; 2 great nephews, Aaron Shirley and Anven Hawpe; and 2 great great nieces Aurora and Novalin Warstler.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Shirley and Anna Lee Shirley as well as his sister Mary Delane Shirley.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you consider making a donation to the Coppell Lions Club in Joe's memory, continuing his legacy of service in the community he so dearly loved.