James Shirey

James (Jim) H. Shirey, age 88, of Searcy, Arkansas, passed from this life on April 18, 2015 at White County Hospital.  He was the devoted husband of Juanita Shirey for 29 years and the beloved father of James (Jim) Shirey, Jr. (Betty) and twin Eleanor Shirey; Ella Star Shirey Allison (Bobby), twin Dalton Roy Shirey (Barbara); Aylene F. Shirey Simpson (Ricky) and twin Ellona M. Shirey Griffin (Jerry);  S. Leonora Shirey Tate; Richard Paul Shirey; Benita Nation Wilkins; Deborah Nation Dare.

James was born August 9, 1926 in Strong, Arkansas to Paralee and Dewey Shirey.  His siblings were Elvin, Melba, Evelyn, Cinda Faye, Johnny, Raymond, Don, Alyce and Doyle.  He was blessed with twenty grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He proudly served in the United States Air Force 1946-1947.

James, also known as “Shorty”, “Jim” and “Jimmy”, was employed for over 39 years by Mississippi River Transmission Corporation and retired as a superintendent of the Carlisle and Sherrill stations.  He was recognized for having the longest safety record in the company.  He took great pride in maintaining a well-organized and spotless facility.  Jim perfected the modification of the pumping engines still in use today across the company.  He could walk in, put his foot on an engine and determine if the timing was correct.   He resided and worked in Biggers, Fountain Hill and Carlisle during his career.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman including hunting and fishing.  He was a member of Gideons International and Trinity Baptist Church in Searcy, Arkansas.  He had a beautiful sense of humor and loved life, was totally selfless and always put others before himself.  He was described by many as the epitome of a southern gentleman. Jim was a principled man and completely devoted to his family and God.  He was humble and never complained.  Although in later times he was physically limited, he spent many hours daily in prayer.  When he could not attend church, he was still a prayer warrior.

Jim was preceded in death by his children, James (Jim) Shirey, Jr. and Jim’s twin Eleanor Shirey, Benita Nation Wilkins, and his great-grandson, Connor Leonard Decker.

Pallbearers:  Brad Shirey, Joe Simpson, Ricky Simpson, Matt Wilkins, Terry Wilkins and Chandler Dare

Honorary Pallbearers:  Bob Allison, Richard Simpson, Jerry Griffin and co-workers from MRTC

Services will be Saturday, April 25 at Trinity Baptist Church, 1601 E. Moore Avenue, Searcy, AR.  Visitation is at 1:00 pm and funeral service at 2:00.  Interment will immediately follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Lonoke, Arkansas.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Gideons International or Trinity Baptist Church Building Fund.