Shirley Marie Mallory

Shirley Marie Mallory, 86, of Mineral Wells, TX passed away Thursday, September 16, 2021, just one day short of her 87^th birthday, at Mineral Wells Nursing Home after a long, well-lived life and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s.  

Shirley was born the first child of J.C. and Naomi Cox on September 17, 1934, in Mineral Wells, TX. She was a great big sister to her three younger brothers; always trying to keep them out of trouble and carrying them from one place to the next. Shirley was active at Indian Creek Baptist Church and educated at Brazos Valley School.   

On February 12, 1960, Shirley married the love of her life, John Mallory. Together, they raised five sons; Tim (Renea) Snider, Weatherford, TX; Mark (Aneilia) Snider, Gillette, WY; Robert Lee (Terri) Snider, St. Anthony, ID; David (Susan) Mallory, Mineral Wells, TX; and Jeff (Lynne) Mallory, Weatherford, TX. They’re also grandparents to twelve grandchildren; Shane (Holly) Snider, Traci Pierce, Amber (Daniel) Wilcox, BJ (Brittany) Gann, Darcee (Eric) Gamble, Krys Snider, Nicole (Andy) Herring, Laura Wadley, Colby (Jenny) Gann, Andy (Amanda) Snider, Angela (Aimee) Khuzkian and Travis Mallory as well as 25 great grandkids and 5 great great grandkids. Also, a special part of her life was her brother Carroll and sister-in-law Bobbie Cox, her brother Weldon and sister-in-law Adonna Cox and brother John Orville Cox as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Shirley was one of the sweetest people you would ever meet. Her faith and her standards never wavered, and family was the most important thing in her life. To know her was to love and respect her. She was beautiful inside and out and loved her daughters-in-law as her own.

Shirley loved going to her boys’ little league games – especially when their team played against her brother Orville’s team – sitting next to her mom made the game very exciting - for everyone in the crowd. Later, she loved watching her sons participate in 4-H, FFA, play football and rodeo – praying for their safety and cheering loudly from the stands. When the boys were older, she enjoyed traveling with John on work trips and to visit their grandkids.

Known for being a great cook, Shirley’s mashed potatoes, peach cobbler and corn bread dressing were famous among family and friends. Her passion for cooking carried over into her massive collection of cookbooks (which she used) and spending time with her grandkids by letting them experiment in the kitchen.

Shirley and John enjoyed chasing their grandchildren and great grandchildren around to support them at various sporting events, birthday celebrations, graduations, and other activities. As Granny to so many, she delighted in the opportunity to babysit and later spend time with them as they got older. She always had a story to tell and loved hearing theirs as well, always wanting to know about their lives and how they were doing.  

Shirley’s biggest joy was spending 61 years married to John and the family that they created. She loved him immensely. As her Alzheimer’s disease progressed over the last five years, John was her sole care giver. His love and dedication to Shirley is unmatched.

Shirley was welcomed into Heaven by her sons Johnny Matt Snider and David Mallory, grandson Colby Gann, her brothers Carroll and John Orville Cox and her parents Naomi and J.C. Cox.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 21, 2021, at Indian Creek Cemetery in Mineral Wells, TX.

Arrangements are under the care of Baum-Carlock Bumgardner Funeral Home of Mineral Wells, TX.