of Little Rock, AR
April 7, 1945 - September 14, 2021
Shirley Gene Carrigan, Nana, age 76, went to be with her Lord and Savior September 14th, 2021 surrounded by her family.
Shirley was born on April 7th, 1945 to Benjamin Bussell and Helen L (Davis) Bussell. She graduated from Central High School in Little Rock, AR. Shirley retired after closing her beloved antique shop, W. Douglas Antiques out of Denton, TX, in 2015.
Shirley was preceded in death by her father, Benjamin Bussell; mother Helen Bussell, sister Ellen McNeill: her son, William Douglas Lee Jr. and her dear cat, Mr. Buddy. She is survived by her husband, Thomas Carrigan; her daughter, Laurie Lee; granddaughters, Margaret Ann Henley (Cody Henley) and Hannah Cummings; great-grandchildren William and Benjamin; stepchildren, John Carrigan, Allison Webber and Valerie Van Gorp, and numerous other family members. We would be remiss not to mention Nana's fur babies-cats, Lacie and Callie.
Shirley had a passion for Jesus, her faith was foundational and evident in her life. She shared her love for Christ with everyone.
Shirley's tales were those of legend; she lived by the philosophy ''Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story''. She adored her family. Nana loved her husband Tom, her world traveling companion, who filled her life with joy and was ever present to shepherd her ice packs, pillows and tea. She counseled her daughter Laurie on pending national crises, shared numerous memes and Snopes checked ''fake news''. She cherished her grandchildren Margaret Ann, affectionately known as Red Ruby and Hannah, who kept Nana's parenting skills at the forefront of her strong persona. She was known for her Xbox expertise, fancy tea parties, and ''snack'' food accommodations- especially Cinnabons. William, her first great-grandson captured her heart immediately being a curly headed bundle of energy followed closely by Benjamin who she was not able to spoil as often due to COVID.
She was a passionate patriot that believed in standing up for what is right-as her many Facebook friends can attest! They looked to her for her vast political knowledge, which she shared liberally (although she was an uber conservative). Her sage advice was sought by ''millions'' who also found themselves, at times, on the receiving end of her brutal honesty.
She touched many lives through her generosity and love. She will be greatly missed.
Family and friends are invited to attend a graveside service at 2:00pm on Sunday, September 19th at Memorial Park Cemetery, 6707 Dollarway Road, White Hall, AR 71602. There will be a reception immediately following the service at the Maumelle Country Club located at 100 Club Manor Drive, Maumelle, AR 72113. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Mayo Clinic, https://philanthropy.mayoclinic.org/donateMC.
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14 Condolence(s)
Pat & Becky Powell
Saturday, September 18, 2021
As friends of Tom and Shirley in Denton for many years, we find it difficult to think of Shirley in "past tense". We've missed them after their move back to Arkamsas, but did have continued contact through FaceBook. Many hours of fun visits -- including eating out together regularly -- with Tom and Shirley provided many fond memories which we will always treasure.
Cindi Ballard
Saturday, September 18, 2021
I’m sending prayers Up to your entire family. I met Shirly and did beautiful glasses for her, she was so tiny and she wore a beautiful Judith Leiber frames. I absolutely adored her from the moment that I met her. She will be greatly missed and I enjoyed her on my Facebook after she moved. She was a very kind lady and you have my heartfelt prayers for your loss.
Shirley Famer-Russell
Saturday, September 18, 2021
I really can't believe she is gone. Over the last 43 years I could not count the hour long phone calls we have spent talking, talking, talking! Sometimes much longer. I met Shirley around 1978, she 33 me 31, when our husbands got involved in a pyramid scheme costing $1000.00, of all things! I was dead set against it and at that meeting she and I were on the same page! The friendship began slowly. However, a good friend of hers lived two door down from me, so I got to know her better through her. Drane Maddox, our wonderful friend. Shirley and I had some good times and some not so good times. She was there for me when my 17 years marriage ended in divorce and I was there for her when her marriage ended a little later. I would go by her house with a bottle of wine and get in her pool and belt out Silver Thread and Golden Needles and laugh and laugh! She didn't drink We'd sing and she took care of me, I'd lay on her couch. I was a mess and she loved me through it all. She had great stories about her life, marriage, and children, she kept me laughing, she alway made me laugh! She moved to Denton TX after she and Tom married, by the way I introduced her and Tom, and that's when our long phone conversation began. We knew things about each other that no one else knows! Now, that's a friend. My friend for 43 years! I can still talk to her I know, anytime I want to! And can almost hear her impute. We had hot debates sometimes over different topics, but, the love was always there. I'll miss her terribly. I know Tom and Lori and her grandchildren will miss her the most of all. God Bless her sweet family with the peace and understanding and knowledge, we all with meet again one day. Love you Shirley, Bunches and Bunches!
Jay and Rhonda Powell
Saturday, September 18, 2021
We are deeply saddened to learn of Shirley's passing and feel truly blessed to have known her as we did. Shirley's personality and perspectives made her easy to love and hard to forget. She was a remarkable lady whose presence will be greatly missed. We send our prayers to all her family and friends in this time of profound grief. May God comfort you with her memories and bring you peace.
Kathey Hannah
Saturday, September 18, 2021
Shirley,
I miss our late night conversations of religion and politics. God's open arms will accept you and make you eternally whole. Blessings to Tom and your family.
Bonnie Huffman
Friday, September 17, 2021
My heart is sad at the news of Shirley’s passing. Shirley was a true friend and “would tell it like it was “ whether you liked it or not. I loved her sassy and feisty persona and treasured her friendship. My deepest and sincere sympathy to Tom and Laurie.
Laurie Rushing
Thursday, September 16, 2021
What a wonderful woman who will be greatly missed. This was an absolutely beautiful and personal obituary (the way one should be written).
Marjorie Maddox
Thursday, September 16, 2021
Shirley will always be my second mother, she took on my brother and sisters as her own and showed us so much love! She had so much love in her heart for family and I am grateful I was on the receiving end of her love! I will forever miss her! Love always!
Rod and Kathy Fleming kathyrfleming@comcast.net
Thursday, September 16, 2021
I'm so sorry for your loss. I had noticed that she hadn't been on Facebook for awhile. I have so many wonderful memories from our time in Ft. Smith. She was a dear friend.
John and Glenna Tompkins
Thursday, September 16, 2021
Our prayers are with Tommy and her entire family
Bill and Wanda Jett
Thursday, September 16, 2021
Our sincere sympathy to the family and know we care.
Bill and Wanda Jett
Jim & Belinda Bellar
Thursday, September 16, 2021
May Shirley have eternal peace.
Danyelle McNeill
Thursday, September 16, 2021
I have so many memories of Aunt Shirley. I wanted to share a few.
When I was 12, I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up (this was long before I realized I’m extremely claustrophobic and lack math skills). She bought me a book about the history of NASA and astronauts and wrote a note inside it about the importance of having dreams and of following them. She didn’t think my fascination with space was fanciful or impossible. She thought interests should be pursued and dreams had. I still have that book.
Aunt Shirley enjoyed traveling. She and Uncle Tom traveled overseas multiple times. On a trip to Paris, she sent me a miniature Eiffel Tower, which sits in my bedroom today.
My aunt liked history. For several decades, she was an antiques dealer. She only started with a little knowledge and a lot of love for old things but she dove right into the world of antiques, slowly creating her business. She studied and read and spoke with experts, constantly learning. Eventually she owned her own store. She loved the work….loved her store and loved antiques.
We became closer when I reached adulthood. In my college years, I went through some difficult times and she stayed in touch and checked on me. I was in a bad place emotionally and she knew that and was concerned. Toward the end of college, my college roommate and I spent a weekend with them. They took us around Dallas (they lived in Denton) and gave us an overview of job possibilities in the area since I was soon to graduate. It was a lovely spring weekend and a fun visit.
After college, I got married. My aunt and I spoke pretty constantly during those years. My ex and I visited Uncle Tom and Aunt Shirley from time to time and they were always fun visits.
When my marriage ended, she stood by me, never lecturing and never blaming and never judging…she was just there listening.
At the height of my grief during that time, when I had no idea what to do on any given day, when it was hard to breathe or to function properly, she said that when things are very bad and the storms are raging around you and you have no idea what to do, sometimes the best thing to do is to do nothing - to stay still and quiet and let life play itself out for a while. She also told me to give myself what she called “pajama daysâ€â€¦.days when you allow yourself to stay home in your pajamas feeling what you need to feel….feeling as sorry for yourself as is necessary before standing up again and going back out into the world. Why? Because sometimes the easiest and best way to face life is when you have allowed yourself to feel and grieve and not be strong for a brief time. It takes so much energy and effort to deny and push aside feelings and this can become a roadblock later on. I still adhere to these pieces of advice. I likely always will….especially now.
I will also always adhere to her advice to speak honestly but within the bounds of love and courtesy, a phrase I’ve heard from her dozens of times over the years. I’ve actually found myself saying these words to others over the years.
It’s difficult to put into words what I’m feeling right now. I can’t yet picture not being able to pick up the phone and talk to her. I thought she would always be here.
She touched a lot of lives and was very much loved and respected by so many. She loved her family so very much. And she will be terribly missed.
Nancy Henley
Thursday, September 16, 2021
Glad to be a part of her world even though it was brief â™¥ï¸ Prayers for peace for her family whom I love