Shirley Oakley

Shirley M. Oakley, born July 23, 1929, in Rochelle, Illinois, to Sherman Cronk and Francis Lualle Furman, passed away peacefully on February 4, 2026, at St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Her long life was marked by resilience, devotion, and a quiet strength that touched everyone who knew her.Shirley spent 47 years in Bismarck, Arkansas, where she built a life rooted in community and friendship. During those years, she gained cherished friends who became like family, including Terry and Beverly Hardin (Amanda King). She also shared a special bond with her neighbors and friends, among them Conrad Shankles, Adgie Hughes, and Calvin Duncan, whose presence enriched her life in Bismarck.

In 2019, Shirley moved to Village Creek Apartments in Arkadelphia, where she found a new circle of companionship and support. The ladies she grew close to there—Louise Buck, Barbara Coplen, June Vancamp, Hazel Hill, and Diane Stiffler—brought joy, laughter, and connection into her later years.

Shirley was a woman of Christian faith, holding close the belief that our true destination is to be in Heaven with our Father. She lived with a gentle understanding that love is meant to be shared freely, not only with people but with all of God’s creatures. She adored dogs and had a natural way of caring for animals, always believing in kindness toward every living being.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Andy Oakley; her son, Bob Williams; one stepson; her grandchild, Brandi; and her dear friends Terry Hardin, Conrad Shankles, and Adgie Hughes, all of Bismarck.

Shirley is survived by her daughter, Cyndilou Schneider (Jimmy) of Lee, Illinois, and her son, Jim Williams (Lyounda) of California. She is also survived by special family and forever neighbors Beverly Hardin (Amanda King), the Shankles family, and Calvin Duncan of Bismarck, all of whom held a meaningful place in her heart.Visitation will be held on Friday, February 13th at 1:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m., at Smith Family Funeral Home – Ruggles Wilcox Chapel in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Those who knew Shirley will remember her for her steady presence, her deep loyalty, and the way she held her family together through every season of life. Her legacy lives on in the stories shared, the friendships she nurtured, and the love she gave so freely. May her memory be a blessing and may those who mourn her find comfort in the life she lived and the love she leaves behind.

Arrangements by Smith Family Funeral Home-Ruggles Wilcox Chapel, 517 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71923