of Springdale, AR

April 20, 1935 - August 13, 2017

Shirlye T. Ford, age 82, of Springdale, Arkansas, passed away peacefully at Westwood Health and Rehab on Sunday, August 13, 2017. She was born in Baker, Arkansas, on April 20, 1935, to Charles Howard Treece, Sr. and Mattie Lester Hensley Treece. She married James E. Ford on December 21, 1955.

Shirlye was the valedictorian of the Marshall High School class of 1953. She graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College (which is now University of Central Arkansas) in 1957. She began teaching in Koshkonong, Missouri, as a high school business teacher, where she met the love of her life, James E. Ford, the high school basketball coach. She taught at Naylor, Mansfield, Cassville, and Savannah, Missouri, over the course of 28 years. Upon retirement, Shirlye and her husband came back to Marshall to live on the Treece Farm. They served the Lord together at Morning Star Baptist Church, and enjoyed camping, gardening, cooking, and life on the farm. After the death of her husband, Shirlye moved to Springdale to be with her daughter, Sara.

Survivors include one son, George (Marilyn) Jolliff of Houston, Texas; two daughters, Sara Ford of Springdale and Susan (Carlos) de la Mora of Springfield, Missouri; three grandchildren, Nate, Stefanie and Nicholas; two great-grandchildren, Nadia and Aria ; one sister, Alice (Jimmie) Dyer of North Little Rock, Arkansas; brother-in-law, Lee Harold (Dorothy) Ford of Heber Springs, Arkansas, and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Shirlye was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, James Elgan Ford, and her brothers Charles Howard, Jr. and Jasper Wayne Treece.

Arrangements are by Roller-Coffman Funeral Home in Marshall, Arkansas. A family service will be held with Rev. John Ybarra officiating. At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the J.O. Kelly Middle School Scholarship Fund, 1879 East Robinson, Springdale, AR, 72764.

Sign Guestbook

3 Condolence(s)