Shirley Ewalt Bowling was born in Wills Point, TX, on March 9, 1937, to Coleman and Berenice Ewalt, with a twin sister, Billie, an older brother, Adam, and a younger sister, Patricia (Pat), all of which preceded her in death.

Shirley was introduced to the love of her life Hollis Bowling, by her cousin and Shirley and Hollis married in 1955. They had three children Brain, Dale, and Cindy. They relocated from Lubbock, TX, to Memphis, TN, in 1963. They attended LeClair Baptist Church, where lifelong friendships were formed with George and Billie Davis, and PW and Charlene Hall. Shirley's relationship with Billie and Charlene grew to be more like sisters than friends.

Shirley began a career with her best friend, Billie Davis, at Sears Department Store as a seamstress for 12 years. She loved sewing her satin pillowcases, and it gave her much happiness to give them as a gift to family and friends. After retiring, Shirley began cooking for her church, Broadmoor Baptist, and her current church, WayPoint Baptist. She had a great passion for this love of cooking, one that was not only appreciated by her congregation but extended to her family, friends, mission trips, and people in need. Shirley also worked with a Private school providing lunch meals for the students.

Shirley was the true definition of a Southern Lady, Greeting you with her "HowDO" ; Putting God First, then her family and friends, always there to help anyone, enjoying traveling, socializing, and sharing food, always ministering the love of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Shirley loved with a passion, had enthusiasm for everyone, shared her family's successes, and, on occasion, played matchmaker for her single family member and friends. Shirley wanted everyone to know the love she and Hollis had and made sure they knew the secret to a happy marriage was having God in it.

This is who Shirley was: a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother (the best you could ever hope to have), a loving friend, and a devoted believer in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. If Shirley could say anything today, I know she would ask that you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and that she will be waiting in Heaven to see you again.

From all of the family, Mom and Nana, we all love you and will miss you, but we will see you and Dad again one day.