Shirley Ann Stephenson

Shirley Ann (Smith) Stephenson, 81, passed away peacefully Saturday, May 28, 2016, at the Moniteau Care Center in California, Mo., with loving family and friends at her side. The daughter of Claude C. and Lula Roberta (Ford) Smith, she was born on February 14, 1935, at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, N.C. Shirley lived her entire life in Raleigh, N.C., until she moved to Missouri in 2012. In addition to her devotion to her girls and grandchildren, she loved the North Carolina coast and endless hours of fishing on the pier, her precious dogs including Tippy, Mean Dog, FuLin and Lali-pup, and vegetable and flower gardening. She is survived by: twin daughters, Resa Purnell Dudley (David), California, Mo. and Sherry (Tinky) Purnell of Raleigh, N.C.; five grandchildren, Leigh Ann Narron (Chad), Clayton, N.C., E.H. Hirschvogel (Stacey) and Amanda Henley, all of California, Mo., Jeffrey Hirschvogel (Michelle), Vienna, Mo. and Robert Hirschvogel (Lacey), Jefferson City, Mo.; eleven great-grandchildren, Mary-Grayce, Sam, Dane, Dylann, Brayden, Henry, Rylee, Bryce, Stella, Josephine and Graeson; brother, William S. Smith (Mae), Smithfield, N.C.; and special nephew, Eddie Smith (Caryl), Apex, N.C., along with a number of other nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Claude "C" Smith, Robert "Big Bob" Smith and Louis "Boozy" Smith; former husband, William "Wild Bill" Purnell; one granddaughter, Sandra Lynn Faulkner; and special nephew, Bobby Smith Jr. A celebration of Shirley's life will be held at a later date in Raleigh, N.C. at Oakwood Cemetery and Hickman Cemetery near Clarksburg, Mo. Memorial contributions may be made to the Resident Fund at Moniteau Care Center c/o the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Bowlin-Cantriel Funeral Services, California, Mo.