Shirley Ruth Tuten's Obituary
Shirley Ruth Tuten, age 89, passed away Tuesday, July 26 2016 at the North Florida Regional Medical Center, Gainesville.
She was born June 6, 1927 in Madison, Florida to Ollie & Mary Sheppard and spent most of her life in Waldo, Florida.
She devoted her life to her family, raising them with the utmost love, kindness & patience. She also helped raise many of her grandchildren with the same gentle love. Shirley always made do with what she had and always made room in her heart and at her table for one more lucky soul to enjoy her fried chicken, biscuits, blackberry doobie & dumplings and so much more. She was the ultimate mother & grandmother, unselfish and her love was unconditional.
She loved animals and rescued many a hungry stray. Her yard was filled with flowering bushes & plants and was tended by her loving hands.
Her family was her life and she lived her life for her family. There is no greater love than that.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Burton Tuten, Jr., son, Billy Ray Tuten, granddaughter, Beth Smith, grandson, Kenny Tuten, brother, Manny Sheppard and sister, Betty Jean Lee.
She is survived by her children, Jimmy Tuten (Marie), Betty Woodall (Woody), and Mary Ann Jones (Butch Smith); sisters, Allie Mae Hall (Quitman) and Helen Dority (Ernest). Her grandchildren, Karen Lynn Davis (Greg), Ricky Tuten (Melissa), Sherry Thomas (Eddie), Corey Worley (Lori), Tammy Worley Erkelens, Bobby Smith, Casey Jones (Vanessa), Christy Evers and Kim Tuten, plus 27 great & 22 great-great grands, and numerous nephews and nieces. Also, countless friends that affectionately referred to her as “Granny”.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 11:00 A. M., in the Waldo Baptist Church, 14370 Kennard Street (SR-24), Waldo, with Rev. Jim Dubois, church pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Laurel Grove Cemetery, Waldo. The family will receive friends, Friday, July 29, 2016, from 5 to 7 P. M., at the WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME DOWNTOWN, 404 North Main Street, Gainesville.
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