Shirley Clyde Rains Greer, 76, of Paris went to be with her Lord Thursday, January 3, 2019. Funeral services will be held at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home on Monday January 7, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Steve Speer officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday from 6 until 8 p.m. A private burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
She was born to humble parents, Clyde and Muriel Pruett Rains in Sabine Parish, Louisiana on November 8, 1942. She attended Belmont school and was valedictorian, class of 1960. She married the love her life, Buddy Greer, July 31, 1960. She was a gentle, loving, devoted mother to her three children, Laurie, Shane and Wendy, then a doting grandmother to seven grandchildren, and great-grandmother to three great-grandchildren. After her children were grown, she worked at Belk Department store for 17 years, where she won several sales and service awards. She spent 58 years being a devoted and exemplary pastor’s wife, which proved to be her life’s calling. Although she played a supporting role, her support was invaluable in carrying out the Lord’s work. She was a faithful, trusting, and steadfast follower and never questioned a part of her journey. Her quietness was her strength, and it was strong and evident in everything she did. She had many qualities, but to those that knew her, she had the most gentle, loving character of anyone you would meet. Though she may have been meek and mild, her strength was immeasurable and unwavering. Her love for the Lord was evident in her kindness and compassion for others. When asked in her latter days what her purpose was, she replied, “so that others may see the Lord Jesus Christ through me,” and they definitely did. She was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Blossom.
She loved to travel and see the country, finally settling on Colorado as her favorite place to visit. Her hobbies included cooking, reading, doing crossword puzzles, watching Wheel of Fortune, and spending time with her family.
To know her, was to love her. If you were privileged enough to know her, you were indeed blessed.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers Randy and Jack Rains.
She is survived by her husband, James Roscoe (Buddy) Greer; children; Laurie Gibson, Shane Greer, Wendy Ruthart and husband Brett; grandchildren, Josh Williams and wife Holly, Leah Hancock and husband Daniel, Dylan Cathey and wife CeAnne, Kastley Greer, Seth Greer, Madeline Greer and Carson Ruthart; great grandchildren Olivia Hancock, Aceleigh and Conor Cathey.
Pallbearers will be Josh Williams, Dylan Cathey, Seth Greer, Carson Ruthart, Daniel Hancock, and Brett Ruthart.
A special thank you to Rachel Wood, RN and Cindy Huddleston with Platinum Hospice for the love and compassion shown in the care provided. We appreciate you both more than you know.
