Shirley J. Black

FORT BRANCH, Ind. -- Shirley J. Black, 90, of Haubstadt, Indiana, passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2020, at River Oaks Health Campus in Princeton, Indiana.

She was born to the late Robert and Effie (Bell) Green on Aug. 10, 1929, in Van Buren, Missouri.

She was a member of Enon General Baptist Church in Princeton, Indiana.

Besides her parents, she is preceded in death by all seven of her siblings: Vester Green, Henry Green, Melvin Green, Mable Harris, Roy Green, Louise Robertson and Robert Green; and a grandchild, Lauren Duckett.

Shirley married her childhood sweetheart, James Black, on Nov. 3, 1945. They enjoyed 74 years as devoted soul mates.

In addition to her loving husband, she is survived by her children, Sue (Perry) Mosbey of St. Charles, Missouri, Michael (Peggy) Black of St. Charles, Missouri, Tina Duckett of Malden, Missouri, Becki (Steve) Anderson of Haubstadt, Indiana, and Russell (Joy) Black of Belleville, Illinois; nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Shirley worked in retail for many years as department head at J.J. Newberry and Big K in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. In later years, she worked for North Gibson School Corporation in Princeton, Indiana and Lucy Lee Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Shirley would tell you her greatest and most enjoyable callings were wife and mother. As a pastor’s wife, she housed many visiting evangelists and cooked innumerable delicious meals. She never took shortcuts in the kitchen. All her cooking was from scratch. Shirley was especially known for her flaky, tasty pie crusts and homemade noodles.

She enabled James to put all other concerns aside and devote much of his time to pastoring and the ministry. As a mother, she was second to none. She could make any mundane activity fun.

She had a keen and quick sense of humor. She spent hours playing board and card games, singing “opera,” making her kids special treats, like homemade donuts, milkshakes and snow cream. She loved her family fiercely, protectively and with her whole heart.

Services will be on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at 6 p.m., with Pastor Tammy Scheller officiating at Stodghill Funeral Home in Fort Branch, Indiana, and on Thursday, July 30, 2020, at 2 p.m., with Dr. Ray Barber officiating at Landess Funeral Home in Malden, Missouri.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, from 4 p.m. to service time at Stodghill Funeral Home in Fort Branch, Indiana, and again on Thursday, July 30, 2020, from 1 p.m. to service time at Landess Funeral Home in Malden, Missouri.

Burial will be at the Missouri State Veteran Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.

Donations can be made to the Dementia Society of America in her honor.

Expressions of sympathy can be made at stodghillfuneralhome.com.