Mrs. Shirley Ann Parris

Shirley Ann Parris, 88, went home to Jesus on Sunday, November 30, 2025. A passionate traveler and the cherished matriarch of her large close knit family, Shirley made her final journey to dance in the arms of her beloved husband. She passed peacefully at home while surrounded by all 4 of her treasured children.

Born October 2, 1937 in Pocatello Idaho she lived a life full of love and adventure. One of 10 children, her curious and fearless nature led to the type of stories and family lore that will live forever in the memories of all she told. Her ability to weave words to create stories that you not only heard, but felt was one of her countless gifts.

Married to the love of her life, Virgil, in 1954 they shared 54 years of romance here before his passing in 2009. She became a mother in 1955 and much of the 50's and 60's were spent raising a beautiful family with 4 kids and countless adventures. In the late 60's Shirley embarked on a career path that she was extremely passionate about, including being chosen as part of a select group of cosmetic specialists for Charles of the Ritz, traveling to New York to learn how to create specialty cosmetic mixes and ushering in a new beauty revolution for women all over the United States. During her 30+ years in the industry she took on a number of roles in sales, as a buyer and managing cosmetic departments in multiple department stores, and met icons such as Coco Chanel and Estee Lauder along the way.

Always a lover of the water, she spent years collecting photos and ideas from magazines and catalogs and with Virgil's careful planning they designed and broke ground in the 70's building her dream home on Puget Sound in Olympia, Washington. In 1977 she stepped into her favorite role, as Grandma, and spent the next 20 years creating memories of clam digging, crab boils, bluff side conversations and walking her private beach with her grandkids. Eventually her restlessness crept in and after Virgil's retirement they set out in a 5th wheel to travel the country, documented in the mountain of photo albums full of beautiful landscapes and photoshoots of themselves from just about every corner of America.

Eventually settling in Lake Guntersville, AL in the late 90's she worked on creating a home base and set out on a very successful mission to get all of her kids and grandkids relocated closer to her. The heart and soul of the family, she was passionate about genealogy and spent her later years carefully researching and documenting the family history, both in written form and by telling her stories to her children and grandchildren.

Her last days were spent with family by her side, and in her typical sweet nature, used her last words to reassure all she loved that she was at peace, and looking forward to her journey to see her love again. She reminded all she loved that she would still be here in our hearts and would continue to look after everyone and take pride in the accomplishments of her family.

She is survived by her children, Randy Parris of Guntersville, Kathleen (Robert) Ware of Horton, Sherry (Ed) Morse of Albertville and Amy (James) Davidson of Guntersville. Surviving siblings H. Lynn (Audree) Hacking of Daytona Beach and Sharon Nelson of Pocatello, Idaho. In addition, she will live on in the hearts of her grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and the countless others she decided were hers too.

Preceded in death by her husband Virgil Parris, Father H.F. Hacking, Mother Pearl Hacking Brothers Gene, Vern, Raymond and Craig and Sisters Esther, Lorna and Buhla, and cherished son-in-law Tom Cartmel.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Gentiva Hospice and all of her loving caregivers who helped ensure that she was able to enjoy her last days and pass peacefully at home according to her wishes.

Services will be held Thursday, December 11th at 2pm at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville, with visitation beginning at 12pm.