Shirley Stephenson Ferrell, of Garner, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2023 with her husband of 55 years, James Stanley Ferrell, by her side. She was 88 years old.

Born on March 26, 1935, in Johnston County, Shirley attended Clayton High School before graduating in 1953 and beginning a professional career that included high-level administrative assistant positions at Peden Steel in Raleigh in the 1960s and later the NC State Treasurer's office. She worked for the State Treasurer for 24 years, with much of her tenure there during the administration of long-time Treasurer Harlan Boyles.

Shirley and Stan met when they both worked at Peden Steel, and after a proper courtship, the two were married in Raleigh, NC in December 1967. Their more than five loving decades together included raising three children (even as Shirley had her own successful professional career), a variety of business ventures for Stan — who credits Shirley for his success — and eventually, the life of an easy-going retiree.

Shirley enjoyed bowling throughout her life (she played for the Peden Steel team in the '60s and was so good that she often beat Stan) and had a variety of activities she enjoyed most: fishing at the NC coast, playing Bingo, taking courses in flower arranging at Wake Tech, visiting with her sisters, tuning in daily to the Bold and the Beautiful soap opera, and — most importantly — cooking. She was a naturally good cook, and her Johnston County roots never left her in the kitchen, whether she was preparing fried chicken, butterbeans, her famous squash casserole, delicious pies, or her favorite dessert — carrot cake. Generous by nature, she was most generous with her down-home, country-style cooking.

Over the past two decades, Shirley and Stan spent as much time as they could at the family's beach house on Emerald Isle. There she could enjoy the company of her now-grown kids, take in the sun from the deck, keep a wary eye on Stan's beachfront golf cart escapades, and even get in some fishing of her own. (She used to repeatedly tell one of her nephews, "When you get old enough, don't forget to take me fishing!")

Shirley was pre-deceased by her parents, Vernon and Sarah Wall Stephenson, and two sisters, Joyce Barbour and Joan Wilson. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her three children and their spouses: Gayle and Jerry Jordan, of Garner, NC; Dale and Susan Langdon, of Rougemont, NC; and Chris and Stacy Ferrell, of Fuquay-Varina; two grandsons, Jeff Jordan and his wife Amy, and Brent Evans; two great-grandchildren, Eli and Everett Jordan; her sister Sue King; and several nephews and nieces.

Because Shirley loved flowers all her life, the family would appreciate flowers at the service from those who knew and loved her.