Mary Elizabeth Harrell Shirey

On August 22, 2026, Mary Elizabeth Harrell Shirey, 99, of Ocala, Florida, peacefully went home to be with the Lord. She was a devoted Christian who cherished her family and friends and touched the lives of all who knew and loved her.

She was born on April 16, 1927, the oldest of eight children to James Boyd Windham and Bessie Virginia Andrews in Lamar, South Carolina. A devoted helper and caretaker to her younger siblings, she graduated from Hartsville High School in South Carolina. She married Louie N. Harrell on May 7, 1948. Together they had four children—Sandra, Randy, Bobby, and Allen—and also raised her youngest brother, Sammy.

In 1957 the family moved to Ocala, Florida. Upon the death of her husband and son, Bobby, in 1961, she raised her family as a single parent. She was a devoted mother and Sunday School teacher of K-6 at Wyomina Park Baptist Church for 27 years.

On June 24, 1979, Mary married Cecil "Pop" Shirey. For 23 years, they continued their devotion to God and family; she was a devoted wife and stepmother.

Fiercely independent, she lived alone until the age of 92 when health issues warranted moving to the Life Care Center of Ocala. There, she maintained connections with family and friends and made many new friends, always showing interest in other people and caring for those around her.

Mary loved to cook for her family and friends, and in her later years friends returned the favor. She was particularly famous for her homemade biscuits as well as her banana pudding and marinated coconut cake. She made special quilts for all 7 of her grandchildren, fulfilling a life goal. Skilled at gardening, she became an avid floral designer and worked at Heritage Florist for 13 years while raising her family.

Although the oldest in her family, Mary survived all of her siblings.

She was preceded in death by her husbands; Louie Harrell and Cecil Shirey, sons; Robert and Louie Randolph, brother; Sammy Windham, step granddaughter; Nancy Applegate, great grandson; Gavin Cole, siblings; Bill, Edward, Elvis, Faye Cash, Dorothy O'Neal, Jeanette Rivers, stepchildren; Weldon Shirey (Elaine), Verona Allpress (Buddy), Virginia Matthews (Kermit).

She is survived by her son, Allen Harrell (Trish) of Ocala, Florida; her daughter, Sandra Fenner (Bill) of Houston, Texas; grandchildren: Christopher Harrell of Ocala, Florida, Casey Harrell of Orlando, Florida, and Heather Gunn (Mark) of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee; Will Fenner (Emily) of Salem, Oregon; Karl Fenner of Atlanta, Georgia; Fred Fenner (Megan) of Houston, Texas; Kaylyn Harris of Austin, Texas. Great-grandchildren include Katie and Carley Harrell of Ocala, Florida; Trey Cole (Jenna) of Tampa, Florida; Lillian and August Fenner of Houston, Texas; Will, Jonathan and Aaron Fenner of Salem, Oregon; and Emilia Harris of Austin, Texas. She is also survived by her stepson, Glenn Shirey (Pat), and step-grandchildren: Donna Tucker, Debra Morris, Carol Stewart, Jeff Matthews, Trampus Shirey, Ashlee Shirey, and numerous step-great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at First Baptist Church of Belleview at 12:00 P.M. with a visitation an hour prior. 

Matt 25:40-45

"The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me"