Shirley Colbert Stephenson
Shirley Colbert Stephenson
A memorial service for Shirley Colbert Stephenson, 71, Willow Springs, Missouri, formerly of Searcy, Arkansas, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 8, 2021, in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Stephenson left us on May 1, 2021, to be with her Lord and Savior.
She was born July 6, 1949, at Falfurrias, Texas, to John Hall Colbert and Viola Bryan Colbert. On November 22, 1969, she was married at Dyersburg, Tennessee, to William R. Stephenson, who preceded her in death on November 9, 2017. She was a member of Osage Baptist Church, Alpena, Arkansas. Shirley was loving, caring, kind and always respectful to others; she never met a stranger. She was a devoted Christian, wife and mother. Shirley sang beautifully and blessed many lived with her music; she was an accomplished private piano and voice teacher within her home for many years. Mrs. Stephenson was past President of the Beethoven Club and was involved in the Jr. Beethoven Club in Searcy, Arkansas. Shirley had been an active member of First Baptist Church in Searcy, Arkansas in past years with her husband, Bill and daughter, Laura. She loved to go fishing with Bill. Shirley was a wonderful seamstress. She was a very selfless person and gave the best back rubs and hugs. She was an excellent grandmother (Gan Gan) to her three grandsons.
Those she left behind are her daughter, Laura Stephenson Bolding and husband, Todd; three grandsons, Brock, Bennett and Blake Bolding; one sister, Jeanne Colbert Ramsey and husband, Jim; one brother, Kenneth Colbert and wife, Betty; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Shirley had friends from all walks of life and treasured them all. She was a true blessing to so many.
Her parents, husband and one sister, Judy Ramsey, preceded her in death.
Visitation will be held prior to the service, from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m., Saturday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideon Bible Society and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
Dustin W Mahan
May 3, 2021 @ 9:42 am
Mary Colbert-Kellum and family, I’m sorry for the loss of your cousin.
Tracy McCluskey
May 3, 2021 @ 8:11 pm
I am sorry for your loss. Prayers for you and your family.
Your mom was such a sweet soul and I know you will miss her.
We love y’all
Barbara Clouse Crouch
May 4, 2021 @ 11:00 am
Was this my friend, Shirley Colbert, from first grade at Summerville Elementary? I have tried to find her for years, and we lived so close together! Was her dad the pastor of the First Baptist Church St Summerville?
Sandy Whitaker
May 5, 2021 @ 3:46 pm
Yes, this is that Shirley, she kept wanting to drive around Summersville and see the homestead and sites. She would have loved to find some old friends. Sorry this never happened. Sandy West Whitaker (cousin)
Kenneth Colbert
May 5, 2021 @ 9:49 pm
This is Shirley’s brother, Ken. We lived in Summersville from
1959-1963. Our dad was the pastor there.
Marilyn Kelley Vandegrift
May 4, 2021 @ 9:24 pm
Betty Lee and Ken, I am so sorry for your loss. This brings sweet memories of my Mother, Lucille Kelley and her BFF, Leta Shepard, your Mom! Love them all! ?? Mano
Kenneth Colbert
May 5, 2021 @ 9:52 pm
Thank you, Mano. Love you,
Barbara Clouse Crouch
May 7, 2021 @ 10:12 am
Thank you. My heart goes out to you in your loss while I also grieve not being able to reconnect with my childhood friend. May God be with you.
Leigh (Bradley) Taylor
May 10, 2021 @ 10:04 pm
Dear Laura, your Mother was such an amazing woman. I’m so very sorry to hear of her passing. I loved every moment I spent as her piano student. She was always kind, loving and a beautiful picture of Christ’s love. She made such a wonderful impact on my life. I’m praying for you and your family as you grieve her. Thank you for sharing her with my family.
Janene Fouts
July 12, 2021 @ 6:16 pm
Was your Father pastor of Hoxie First Baptist? If he was, Shirley was my childhood friend. I loved her so much and have thought of her over the years. I have such fond memories of our friendship.