Shirley Louise Harkreader of La Marque, Texas, and most recently of Atlanta, GA, passed away July 13, 2022 at Piedmont Walton County Hospital, Monroe, GA, surrounded by her family.

Shirley was born on August 8, 1933 to Marshall Harley and Elsie Irene Sublett in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She grew up in Greenwood, Arkansas and graduated from Greenwood High School in 1951. Shirley was the loving wife of Jerry C. Harkreader for 61 years. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, she was preceded in death by her parents, and by her husband, Jerry, her daughter, Sharon Harkreader Salazar, and her sister, Molly Mahl. She is survived by her children Jerry Harkreader Jr. (Carolyn) of Loganville, GA and Danny Harkreader (Arline) of DeRidder, LA, sister Barbara Puckett (Joe), also of Atlanta, and her brother Roger H. Sublett (Cindy), of Cincinnati, Ohio, her grandchildren, Jonna Osborne (James), Krista Charen (Adam), both of Atlanta, Emily Lanting (Eric), of Las Vegas, NV, Amy Harkreader, of Richmond, TX, Cliff Harkreader of DeRidder, LA and Christopher Salazar (Emily) of La Porte, TX, great- grandchildren, Anna and Sam Charen, Grace, John and Mark Lanting, Sydney and Jack Osborne, Cheyanne, Hayley, Asher and Ezekiel Salazar, and Ben Shillingburg and many nieces and nephews.

In 1953, Shirley and Jerry moved to La Marque, Texas for Jerry’s position at Union Carbide for 34 years. As an active member of the First Baptist Church of La Marque for over 60 years, she worked in the Bible school, Sunday school, and the “Best Side of 50.”

As an adult student, Shirley attended Alvin Community College and graduated from the University of Houston in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education preceding the graduation of her children from college. Following graduation, she taught 6th grade reading in the Santa Fe School District for 18 years. After retirement, she and Jerry traveled the country, visiting many places including Alaska with family and Hawaii with Jerry’s brother and wife, and numerous family visits with her children, brother, and sisters.

Shirley had a servant’s heart. She cherished her family and family gatherings. She moved from La Marque and spent her last three years at Sunrise Assisted Living in Lawrenceville, GA where she had many friends, and was a ray of sunshine. She embraced life fully regardless of the many health challenges that she faced, with support of her loving husband, family, and friends. She remained positive throughout her life and was a positive influence to those around her along the way. As the prophets in Deuteronomy 6:11 remind us, “we all drink from wells we did not dig, and warm ourselves by fires we did not build.” For nearly 89 years, she dug a lot of wells and built many fires and left a loving legacy for her family and friends. Her life will remain an inspiration to all who knew and loved her.

A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2022 from 12:00 noon – 2:00pm with a memorial service beginning at 2:00pm at the James Crowder Funeral Home in La Marque.