Shirley Campbell, 91, of Cape Girardeau, MO, died on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, at Saint Francis Medical Center, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born the daughter of Arthur and Helen (Brimer) Parks. She married Ruben D. Campbell, Jr., in Granite City, on July 15, 1949, and they were blessed with 60 years together before his death in July 2009.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, Aug. 7, at the First Baptist Church in Mulberry Grove, located at 111 East 2nd Street. Funeral services will follow at noon. Burial will be at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Greenville. Assalley Funeral Home in Greenville will assist the family with arrangements.
Mrs. Campbell worked a wide array of jobs over the years. Her very first job was at a purse factory in St. Louis, MO, then for Southwest Bell Telephone as an operator, and a Stanley Products sales representative, both in Granite City. She later worked as a clerk at Woolworths and P.N. Hirsh in Greenville, was an Avon representative in California and Illinois, owned and operated her own beauty shop in Mulberry Grove, worked at DeMoulin’s in Greenville, and for eleven and a half years, and was a ward clerk at Fair Oaks Nursing Home.
Mrs. Campbell also dedicated her time and talents to the Lord. She was a long-time member of the Mulberry Grove First Baptist Church and a recent member of Crossroads Church in Jackson, MO. Over the years, she served as a Sunday school teacher for adults and children, Sunday school superintendent, church treasurer, secretary, board member, and a greeter. She was also a W.M.U. leader and Rehoboth Association W.M.U. president. While those were all rewarding roles, she had the greatest influence as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend. Her greatest joy in life was being able to spend time with her family, loving them, watching them grow and flourish.
Mrs. Campbell also loved anything that sparkled, Christmas, gospel music, Elvis Presley, cheesecake, Dr. Pepper, and arguably was the greatest St. Louis Cardinals Baseball fan of all time.
Mrs. Campbell is survived by her daughters, Barbara Campbell and Sandra Dothager, both of Cape Girardeau, MO; grandchildren, Crystal (Matt) Britt of Cape Girardeau, MO, Robert Mills of New York, NY, Douglas Mills of Aurora, CO, and Mary Kim (Stephen) Loeffler of St. Peters, MO; great-grandchildren, Sydney, Makenzie, Jaden, Tytus, Scarlett, Jaxson, Brayden; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins who loved her very much.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings, Jerry Parks, Mary Helen Harnetiaux and Wanda Bradley.
Memorials may be made to Mount Auburn Cemetery Association, c/o Bradford National Bank, Att. Penny Slatton, 100 College Avenue, Greenville, Illinois 62246. Condolences may be left online at assalleyfuneralhomes.com.
