Shirley Mathis Woosley Wright, age 84, passed away in Paris, TX on June 15, 2018. She is survived by her husband, Travis Wright; her three children, John (Patricia) Woosley of San Diego, CA; Frank (Kim) Woosley of Dallas TX; and Carol (Edward) Murphy of Chicago, IL; as well as her grandchildren, John Paul Woosley, Elizabeth Nicole Woosley and John David Woosley; and one great-grandchild, Jack Woosley.
Shirley was born in Pinckneyville, Illinois on September 1, 1933, to Thelma (Atwood) and Dr. John A. Mathis. Her parents and brothers, Jack Mathis and Dr. Jim Mathis, predeceased her. She is survived by siblings Patrick Mathis, Timothy Mathis and Theresa Eversgard.
Shirley attended schools in Pinckneyville and around the United States while Dr. Mathis was active in the Navy during World War II. She obtained her high school diploma from Ward-Belmont School for Girls in Nashville, TN. Shirley married Frank Woosley in 1952. While raising her three children, she obtained degrees in drafting and interior design from Southern Illinois University. Shirley worked with Frank at Woosley Lumber Company for a number of years and then opened her own business, The Cupboard Shop. During this career, she became an accomplished kitchen designer and visited homes across Southern Illinois. When entering a new client’s home, she would immediately go to the largest room and announce, “This should be the kitchen!” She was much loved by her clients and served as president of the Pinckneyville Chamber of Commerce. She and Frank were very active in the First Baptist Church of Pinckneyville.
Shirley was an extraordinarily talented and intelligent woman. She sang beautifully and played the marimba. She was an amazing cook who could duplicate dishes she tasted once and was famous for her pies wherever she lived. She painted watercolors and collected antiques and could make any home cozy and comfortable. Shirley did not tolerate unattractive plots of dirt and created glorious gardens. Her amazing intelligence and keen ability to solve almost any problem were striking in whatever endeavor she undertook.
Shirley married Travis Wright in 1988, and they operated a pecan ranch outside Detroit, Texas until 2014. She and Travis were very active in the Leesville Baptist Church, and Shirley taught the adult Sunday School classes there for many years. Shirley applied her drafting talents to design buildings for churches across northeast Texas and southern Oklahoma during this time. She also designed a magnificent home for her and Travis, and she and Travis built that home nail by nail and board by board.
Shirley suffered several strokes late in life. The first she fully recovered from through her magnificent willpower. A more debilitating stroke a few years ago proved too much to overcome. That was probably the only challenge she ever faced that she did not overcome.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home, with Rev. Jimmy Ellis, officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9:30 AM until service time on Tuesday. Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.
