Obituary of Eleanor Shirley

Eleanor Pomeroy Shirley, 93, of Russellville, AR, formerly of Bastrop, LA, passed away Wednesday, November 29, 2006 at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Russellville. A daughter of the late Cree Walter and Myrtle Robison Pomeroy, she was born August 23, 1913 in Bastrop. She graduated from Bastrop High School in 1930, and, as a gifted athlete, attended Lynn's Business School in Shreveport on a basketball scholarship. While a student she played semi-professional basketball and played in the Women's National A.A.U. Basketball Tournament in 1932 against the Olympic great, Babe Didrickson. She also was the Louisiana State javelin champion. She never missed watching football games, especially when her two favorite teams, the Arkansas Razorbacks and the LSU Tigers, were playing. She worked for the W.P.A. and continued in this service for 42 years through the Louisiana State Department of Public Welfare. After having lived in Bastrop for 89 years, she moved to Russellville, AR three years ago to be close to her family. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Bastrop, where she had the honor of having been a member longer than any other member and had recently moved her membership to First United Methodist Church in Russellville. Eleanor was called "Skeet" by her old friends, "Sissie" by her family, and "Mam-ma" by her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She was a dedicated Christian mother and grandmother and was very loved by her family. She was a wonderful cook, and was "famous" for her fried chicken and her divinty. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Robert Squyres of Russellville; three grandchildren, Aaron Squyres of Maumelle, AR, Amy Cooper & husband Hunt of Siloam Springs, AR, and Laura Little & husband Aaron of Searcy, AR; five great grandchildren, Austin, Madison, and Mason Cooper of Siloam Springs, AR, and Colby & Aubrey Little of Searcy, AR; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. The funeral service will be at 2 PM Sunday, December 3, 2006 at First United Methodist Church in Bastrop, officiated by Rev. Ramone Warren. Burial will be in Christ Church Cemetery in Bastrop, by Golden Funeral Home. Active pallbearers will be Aaron Little, Hunt Cooper, Burt Hodge, Robert Squyres, Aaron Squyres and Rick Pomeroy. The family will receive friends on Friday evening, from 6 to 7:30 PM at Shinn Funeral Service in Russellville, AR. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Foundation, Arkansas Affiliate, Inc., 212 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, AR 72205-1573; or Arkansas Hospice, 2405 East Parkway, Suite 3, Russellville, AR 72802.